May I Have Your Attention Please by James Corden

5 Stars Dec 15, 2022

My review

5/5 stars

I know that James Corden is a polarising figure, but I'm one for making my own mind up about people and was curious to hear things from his point of view.

On the whole, he's very honest about his mistakes throughout the book. He's upfront about the fact that his attitude took a nosedive once fame kicked in, and the resulting impact that had on everyone around him. His willingness to be vulnerable is endearing and does a lot to balance out the somewhat arrogant actions that dominate his early career, so that he ultimately remains likeable at the end of the book. He seems to have turned things around from his "height of fame" days and has realised the error of his ways. The self-narration really helped with this, as we were hearing things in the author's own words and voice, so the emotions were genuine throughout.

It's clear from reading that the seminal event in the author's life is his time performing in The History Boys. He writes with some warmth and reverence about the whole experience, that it's hard not to get drawn in to the experience as if you were there with him. It's a completely different tone from the rest of the book and shows that there are parts of his life that he absolutely does not take for granted.

He's worked with a lot of big names throughout his career (this covers his time before hosting The Late Late Show in America, but the list is still long), and the name-dropping does become a bit much at times, but it's still quite impressive and does fit into the book's timeline naturally; it's not there for the sake of it, he's just lived a very interesting life so far.

The anecdote at the end, another chance for a big name-drop, is something that has stayed in my memory since I finished the book. It was entertaining, touching and written with pride, so it was clearly the right way to end the book. I'd be interested to see a follow-up that covers the second part of his career and his life across the pond to see if he's managed to keep the same approach and attitude to things in the face of big lights and Hollywood fame.

Book blurb

As far back as he can remember James Corden has only ever wanted to be in one place: in front of you, doing something to make you laugh, cry, shout, or giggle uncontrollably. At the age of 4, he grandstanded throughout his baby sister’s christening, standing on a chair in front of the whole congregation, pulling faces and cracking everyone up. Despite himself, the vicar was impressed. And from then on he couldn’t get enough of the spotlight, even when it always seemed to avoid him. Throughout his teens, he and his Dad trudged up and down towards London, getting closer and closer to landing a gig, only to be told ‘No’ at the last stage. But he never gave up and soon found his whole life turned upside down and inside out by his experience as one Alan Bennett’s History Boys. From that moment forth, he’s never looked back.

May I Have Your Attention Please? is the warm, cheeky, surprisingly honest and hilarious story of one of our most popular comedy talents. From his antics as one of the founding players of his high-school’s first ever rugby team to gaining recognition in the West End, to nationwide fame as the loveably loud Smithy in the award-winning Gavin and Stacey, this is a tenderly told story of what it’s like to try, try and try again and - happily - get there in the end.