James Corden Named ‘Late’ Replacement? Brit Reportedly To Take Over CBS Spot From Craig Ferguson

Late night TV is in a period of transition — and if rumors are true — there is a new contender entering the arena.

British comedian James Corden is being pegged to replace James Ferguson on CBS’ Late Late Show.

The Wrap started the rumor, writing that ” an individual with knowledge of the situation” tipped them off about Corden. So far, CBS has not confirmed the rumor, but that has not stopped it from gaining steam.

So who is James Corden?

According to Vox writer Todd VanDerWerff, Corden uses “big, broad comedy, often with a physical bent”, but his deep acting talent stops him from falling into the “funny fat guy trope.”

The 35-year-old earned his acting chops on the London stage, in the original production of The History Boys. From there, Corden played off-beat goofs in Hulu/BBC Two’s The Wrong Mans and British sitcom Gavin & Stacey. Corden even has a Tony on his shelf; for his role in the comedy One Man, Two Guvnors.

This year, Corden is already getting more exposure, appearing in the Keira Knightley rom-com Begin Again and in the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

Corden is virtually unknown in the U.S., making him a bold choice for the Late Late Show.

According to Vox, it might not be a long shot:

“[It’s] easy to forget how deeply indebted this form — as well as most TV forms filmed before a live audience — is to live theater. The late-night talk-show format grew out of 1950s New York, a culture still deeply enmeshed with the world of Broadway, and it has a lot of these stage elements in its DNA. Those are just the sort of things someone like Corden would be able to play up, and it may be what CBS is responding to.”

Another selling point for Corden? As The Wrap points out, his substantial Twitter presence — with over 4 million followers — could quickly attract a younger audience to the Late Late Show.

As reported in the Inquisitr, a formal announcement from CBS about the show is expected soon. This month, CBS entertainment head Nina Tassler is scheduled to meet with her team to discuss casting the host and possibly changing the talk show’s format. Joel McHale, Aisha Tyler and Neil Patrick Harris have also been put forward as possible replacements for Craig Ferguson.

Ferguson is expected to leave the Late Late Show at the end of 2014, leaving room Corden to swoop into the host’s chair.

Who do think should host the Late Late Show?