James Corden channels his inner playboy in a lavish robe and slippers for magazine shoot as he dismisses Stephen Colbert rumours

By Dan Cain For Mailonline

Published: 13:49 EST, 7 February 2017 | Updated: 18:18 EST, 7 February 2017

James Corden has always been more London wide boy than international playboy, but in his latest magazine shoot he resembles a young Hugh Hefner.

The chat show king, 38, sipped from a teacup while wearing a £1,995 New & Lingwood dressing gown and a pair of black and gold slippers for the March edition of Esquire.

Standing with his legs crossed beside an outdoor pool, he raised his pinky as he drank and wore a pair of shades, looking worlds apart from his much-loved role as Smithy in Gavin and Stacey.

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Living the high life: James Corden has always been more London wide boy than international playboy, but in his latest magazine shoot he resembles a young Hugh Hefner in a £1,995 New & Lingwood dressing gown

Living the high life: James Corden has always been more London wide boy than international playboy, but in his latest magazine shoot he resembles a young Hugh Hefner in a £1,995 New & Lingwood dressing gown

In another image, the funny man is sat atop a small penny-farthing wearing an eye-catching red suit with extravagant embroidery.

Rather than showcasing a dramatic lifestyle change, the images are clearly tongue in cheek, with James doing his best to convey a false sense of seriousness.

In his interview, James addresses rumours that his Late Late Show is set to replace CBS's Colbert in the 11.30pm slot.

Big time: In another image, the funny man is sat atop a small penny-farthing wearing an eye-catching red suit with extravagant embroidery

Big time: In another image, the funny man is sat atop a small penny-farthing wearing an eye-catching red suit with extravagant embroidery

He said: 'It just seems sort of silly to me. I really love him (Stephen Colbert). So I always find it slightly embarrassing. I really don’t think there’s any substantial evidence at all. I really don’t think it exists.'

Mouthful: The British chat show host is Esquire's March cover star

Mouthful: The British chat show host is Esquire's March cover star

While James's competition in the ratings war is NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers and ABC’s Nightline, there's another under the radar rival that all three are up against.

James said: 'Our competition is people choosing to be asleep.'

Having made a massive impact since making his The Late Late Show debut in March 2015, James has big plans for the show in the year ahead.

Discussing how the show will improve, he said: 'Visually better. More ambitious. And also sillier. Those three things. I’m always keen to try new things visually, with openings and sketches. I’d like to film the show somewhere else for a week.'

And when it comes to his sources of inspiration, he listed an array of familiar names in the UK. 

'The people who influenced me were Chris Evans, Jonathan Ross, Graham Norton, and Wogan and Parkinson. Names that will mean almost nothing to most of the people in this restaurant. In the same way that if you went into a pub in Bradford and talked about Carson, no one would have a clue about who you were talking about.'

Setting the record straight: In his interview, James addresses rumours that his Late Late Show is set to replace CBS's Colbert in the 11.30pm slot

Setting the record straight: In his interview, James addresses rumours that his Late Late Show is set to replace CBS's Colbert in the 11.30pm slot