WATCH: James Corden thanks George Michael for inspiring Carpool Karaoke in touching tribute

James Corden paid emotional tribute to George Michael, saying that the Comic Relief sketch they did together was the “inspiration” behind his popular chat show segment, Carpool Karaoke.

In the return of his US talk show, The Late Late Show, on Tuesday, Corden revealed that the news of the pop icon’s death hit him “harder” after reflecting back on a sketch they had teamed up for in 2011.

George, who tragically passed away on Christmas Day aged 53, was the first celebrity to ever agree to appear in the comedian’s Carpool Karaoke segment, which went on to inspire a hugely successful series.

“I wanted George to be in this sketch with me,” the TV host explained. “And we’d called his management and we’d called the label, and I’ll never ever forget it that they said: ‘George would like to talk to you about this himself.’”

Despite the musician being in Australia at the time, the pair managed to connect and “chatted for an hour” about the concept, with James admitting he felt “very privileged” to be able to tell him how much his music meant to him.

Opening up about the depth of his personal tragedy, he added: “I feel like I’ve loved George Michael as long as I’ve loved music, and I know so many of his fans feel the same.

“I can remember so many times in my life when I might have felt on my own and George’s music would feel like he would reach his hand out and tell you that you’re not on your own and that these feelings aren’t particular to you.”

Corden signed off his touching tribute, adding: “We all have so much to thank him for, for the music that he’s given that will last forever. But we personally, here at this show, we owe him so much.”

Rest in Peace, George Michael (1963- 2016).