What did the critics think of James Corden's debut?

Writing in The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Goodman praised the star as “youthful and engaging” and compared him to Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon.

He said: “This much was clear from Corden’s debut – he’s different.

“Corden doesn’t put a layer of cool between him and the viewer (or his guests) – he’s as affable and sincere as Fallon with just a little less goofiness. It’s a welcome trait, one that should put guests at ease.”

Goodman said the first episode “felt only slightly stilted” at times and that Corden’s “welcoming sense” could create a “dinner-party or cocktail-party vibe” for his guests sharing a couch on the show.

He said: “As first nights go, this was a winner for Corden.”

Writing in Variety, TV columnist Brian Lowry said it was a “slightly uneven” first appearance with moments of “inspired lunacy” and others things that need “work”.

He said Corden “oozed sincerity”, but appeared “more comfortable during planned bits than interacting with guests”.

The critic said he “cackled a little too loudly at his own jokes” but praised a sketch where Corden and Tom Hanks performed scenes from the actor’s career as “like a touch of old-fashioned variety, in a good way”.

He added that the “multi-talented” Corden would need “a pretty formidable bag of tricks” to keep the show going when the guests were not as high-profile as Hanks.