James Corden turned down 'The Late Late Show' twice.
James Corden on The Late Late Show
The 37-year-old presenter was approached to replace Craig Ferguson by CBS bosses while starring in Broadway show 'One Man, Two Guvnors' in 2012 and pitched a "fun, youthful show that the internet would respond to".
By the end of the meeting, he was offered the job - only to refuse it.
He said: "I was really reticent. I said no, and then it went quiet for a few weeks. Then I said no again."
James' reluctance was due to having to put other plans, including a HBO sitcom and a return to Broadway, on hold but was persuaded to take the job by his friend Piers Morgan, who advised he would regret not seizing the opportunity.
He told Mr. Porter magazine: "It's a fierce and unforgiving place, but you'll regret not trying.
"I thought, it won't come round again. In five years' time they won't go, 'Oh, let's go back to that guy who turned us down.' "
The British star - who has kids Max, four, and Carey, 15 months, with wife Julia - was so unconvinced the show would be a success, he refused to buy new furniture for his Los Angeles home.
He admitted: "I was so convinced it wouldn't work that we rented all our furniture for a year.
"I mean, I've never hosted a chat show before. I'm not a stand-up. I'm not even a sketch comedian."
However, having recently had his contract extended by five years, he has now been shopping.
He laughed: "So yeah, I did buy a sofa last week. They can still fire me, but I can't leave."
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