James Longman’s Late Late Show Success Began with Stories

Spring 2021 • Spotlight

From listening to stories as a child to creating live skits on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Longman shares the secrets to Executive Producing the Emmy-winning show.

By Alana Blumenstein

James Longman, Co-Executive Producer of the Late Late Show with James Corden, doesn’t often get asked about his childhood. Yet the 2-time Emmy winner credits it for his success today. On a Zoom call with KidsRead2Kids, he explains his love for diving into new worlds. “My parents always read to me in bed … and it just seeped into me,” he shares. “My job now is storytelling, and back then it was just reading stories.”

Growing up in Chigwell, Essex, Longman’s days were filled with lots and lots of books. “I was always nose in a book,” he says, adding that the smell of books still excites him. His favorites include British Classics like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, and stories by Roald Dahl. Nothing excited Longman more than fictional, fantastical worlds that lived deep in adventure. “They’re so rich in storytelling and characters,” he explains, adding that it helps readers immerse themselves in the story. “You want to know where they go, which is so vital when you’re reading it to be hooked in.”

Longman’s love of books encouraged him to write stories of his own. “I used to write little stories and, and have little adventures with them,” he recalls. He jokes that as he aged, his obsession with Stephen King led to darker endings.

As a young student, Longman remembers how one teacher particularly helped him. “Our English teacher would act everything out and keep you involved and enamored with it all,” he says. Though writers like Shakespeare can be difficult to follow, Longman’s teacher brought their stories to life.

Longman’s passion for stories led him to pursue movies, TV, and film. He began studying at Sunderland University, where he learned camera, audio, writing, and producing skills. When Longman was 21, he got his first job in television, and he’s been hooked on the industry ever since. “Once I got my first job in TV, I realized that I liked being behind the camera,” he says. “I liked producing things. I liked pulling everything together and creating that way.”

Getting hired in the entertainment industry is a difficult feat, Longman admits. Yet, he persevered, by writing “loads and loads of letters” at a time before email. When one letter landed at MTV, five months later, he was offered an internship.

To survive in the business, Longman lists positivity, teamwork, and a good work ethic as essential qualities. “Life is tough, and work can be tough,” he says, emphasizing that it’s important not to be an obstacle. “If you have a positive attitude, it can exude positivity and other people.”

Today, as Co-Executive Producer for The Late Late Show with James Corden, Longman works as a professional problem solver. “If they’ve got a problem, they come to me,” he says. “That allows them to go out and do whatever they need to do to shine.” When it comes to potential issues, Longman says there is no such thing as a typical day. This uncertainty requires him to adapt constantly, but he doesn’t mind – he loves what he does.

“As a producer, you're kind of at the heart of everything,” Longman explains. The key, he says, is making sure everyone – from celebrity guests to the crew backstage – is happy. “If someone’s happy, they do their best work,” Longman says.

Still, Longman says he is lucky to have such a great team. “James is so brilliant,” he says of Corden. He explains that Corden adds his own magic to every sketch he performs. “Our job is to use his skill set and create a world around him that elevates him.”

Behind the camera, Longman can be found facilitating and managing the show’s successful run. He works with writers to create skits and helps pitch ideas to host James Corden and publicists of guests. Once an idea is approved, Longman oversees the final performance and editing process. “I'm always juggling all the different sketches that we have in comedy bits,” he shares. 

When the pandemic hit in March, The Late Late Show pivoted to a new format from home. Though it’s been hard to stay positive, Longman feels lucky to be working and healthy. “We've got a good structure here, so everyone feels loved and heard and valued,” he says, adding that he, Corden, and other executives work hard to create that environment. “It’s not just an arm on the shoulder; it’s a big old hug. A virtual hug.”

Sadly, social distancing regulations leave no room for Longman’s favorite series: Crosswalk the Musical. Crosswalk sees the Late Late Show cast perform musical numbers amidst real-life traffic, along with celebrity guests. According to Longman, the filming process is just as chaotic as it sounds. His schedule includes a 6am arrival time, and along with producers, overseeing wardrobe and a cast full of dancers. Behind-the-scenes, Longman describes Crosswalk as “insanity over the course of a couple hours.”

From Oprah to Will Smith to Tom Cruise, Longman has worked with his fair share of celebrities. But his most beloved memory is a time things didn’t go as planned. In 2017, The Late Late Show surprised an audience of 200 with the cast of Thor: Ragnarok prior to their showing. The new sketch involved a comedic, in-person performance of the movie. Longman recalls sitting hidden behind the stage podium unknowing of what would happen.

“I just remember that moment with James Corden, we kind of locked eyes and then I cued him, and he was on stage,” he says. “There’s moments like that where you're so far in it, you don't even know what to do.”

Luckily, the skit was a success, and Longman looks back on the experience fondly. “We’ve got a great team here, so you’re always confident it’s going to be good,” he says. The skit can be seen today on The Late Late Show’s YouTube Channel, where the video has reached over 18 million views.

At home, Longman enjoys reading to his 3-year-old son, and soon, to his six-month-old newborn. He’s a long way from Chigwell, yet he names childhood figures as his biggest inspirations. He credits his parents and schoolteachers for opening his eyes to a world of endless stories; a world he hopes to pass down to his children. “I’ve always liked this world,” he says. “I’m very lucky to work in it.”