James Corden is returning to the London stage this summer in his first major role since leaving The Late, Late, Show.

He will star alongside Motherland and Line of Duty's Anna Maxwell Martin in the world premiere of Joe Penhall's political drama The Constituent at The Old Vic.

Maxwell Martin plays a hard-working compassionate opposition MP whose ideals about public service are severely tested by an ex-serviceman in a crisis played by Corden.

Ham & High: Corden made his name on the London stage in the likes of One Man Two Guvnors before heading to the US in 2015 to host The Late, Late ShowCorden made his name on the London stage in the likes of One Man Two Guvnors before heading to the US in 2015 to host The Late, Late Show (Image: The Old Vic)

Tickets are now on sale for the show, which runs from June 13 June to 10 August and is directed by the Waterloo theatre's artistic director Matthew Warchus - whose award winning work includes the RSC's Matilda and A Christmas Carol.

He said: "This urgently topical new play from Joe Penhall set in a local MP’s constituency office. In a landscape of increasing threat, what place is there for empathy? Is an open door policy now dependent on stab vests?"

Corden rose to fame on the London stage in the likes of One Man, Two Guvnors, and The History Boys before moving to the screen as co-writer of Gavin and Stacey then heading to the US in 2015.

Joe Penhall's play looks at politics in an age of panic alarms and the conflict between public service and personal safety.

He said: "I began writing this play four years ago, as I became fascinated and appalled by the growing antipathy towards elected politicians and it’s beyond exciting to be finally doing it."