Love him or hate him, James Corden is a vital part of our theatrical history

• The hotly anticipated return of James Corden to the London stage this week – taking a leading role opposite Anna Maxwell Martin in a new play by Joe Penhall, The Constituent, at the Old Vic – inevitably casts hearts and minds back to the last time he trod the boards, over a decade ago, as well as inviting speculation as to what he’s up to now.