As two British A-listers who made it in Hollywood, David Beckham and James Corden had quite the friendship bond.

So it is not such a surprise that the comedian would have been a rather large presence at the former England star’s 50th birthday dinner at Notting Hill restaurant Core last Saturday night.

But his absence has prompted much chatter over whether the once best friends have fallen out.

Last week David hosted an intimate London dinner with his closest friends of a decade or so or even more – and family – at Core in West London.

His a-list pals including Tom Cruise, 62, Gordon Ramsay, 58, Eva Longoria, 50, and Gary Neville, 50, flew in for the big occasion with their partners.

However, James, who has known the footballer for more than 15 years, was notably missing from the star-studded bash.

As two British A-listers who made it in Hollywood, David Beckham and James Corden had quite the friendship bond (last pictured together in January)

So it is not such a surprise that the comedian would have been a rather large presence at the former England star’s 50th birthday dinner at Notting Hill restaurant Core last Saturday night

One observer said: ‘You look at the people there and James wasn’t, it was quite the surprise.’

James and David first met back in 2009 when they were filming a sketch for a Sports Relief fundraiser and soon after James openly admitted he was starstruck by former England captain Becks.

He said: ‘I just wanted to lick him. Honestly, he was unbelievably nice.’

Always a huge fan of Beckham, in 2010 James appeared on the Jonathan Ross show where he said: ‘We went for dinner, we were hanging out, I was like “oh my God, I am trying to hold it together”.

‘I can’t speak highly enough of him.’

As their friendship continued to grow, the pair would often be seen out for dinner in London, papped outside a restaurant together.

By December 2011 they’d become so close that David played peacemaker during a row between Prince Harry and James, 46, after the royal made a cruel comment about the actor’s appearance during a night out in London.

In 2012 there were rumours James had ditched his oldest pals for his new best buddy and asked David to be best man at his wedding to Julia Carey.

But his absence has prompted much chatter over whether the once best friends have fallen out (pictured together in 2020)

Last week David hosted an intimate London dinner with his closest friends of a decade or so or even more – and family – at Core in West London

His a-list pals including Tom Cruise (pictured), 62, Gordon Ramsay, 58, Eva Longoria , 50, and Gary Neville, 50, flew in for the big occasion with their partners

However, James, who has known the footballer for more than 15 years, was notably missing from the star-studded bash (pictured together in 2017)

James was said to have been struggling to choose between Gavin and Stacey co-star Mat Horne and former flat mate who introduced him to his wife, Dominic Cooper.

Throughout the years David has regularly starred on James’s projects including his Late Late Show and podcasts. 

In fact, David was a guest during the first week of James’ shows which were aired on US network, CBS. 

During the episode they took part in a skit together where they were both wearing underwear – with Corden poking fun at himself not looking as svelte as Becks.

There was a viral moment six years ago that the funnyman pranked his mate with a fake statue commemorating the footballer which looked nothing like him.

The video received 50 million views because of how authentic the friends came across.

‘David is a good friend of mine,’ James opened the sketch with.

And in April 2023 when James’ final episode of the Late Late Show aired, David shared a slew of throwback snaps of ‘very funny memories’ from his appearance on the American series on Instagram before welcoming his friend home to London.

Throughout the years David has regularly starred on James’s projects including his Late Late Show and podcasts

And in April 2023 when James’ final episode of the Late Late Show aired, David shared a slew of throwback snaps of ‘very funny memories’ from his appearance on the American series on Instagram before welcoming his friend home to London

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From friends into neighbours, when James moved back to the UK he was said to be looking for a house not far from the David’s £31million townhouse in Holland Park.

And in March last year David appeared on James’s podcast show This Life of Mine, where he asked his pal about his career achievements and family life which proved to show the friends closeness.

A few months later for his 45th birthday last year David posted a throwback snap of the friends with the caption, ‘Happy Birthday mate’.

James failed to mark his friends 50th last week on social media and was also a no-show at his celebrations.

David’s children Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20 and 13-year-old Harper were there alongside Victoria Beckham, 51.

David’s childhood friend Dave Gardner, 47, who he became best friends on Manchester United’s youth team, even becoming Brooklyn’s godfather, was also there.

Romeo’s partner Kim Turnbull, 24, and Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie, 29, were also in attendance.

James wasn’t the only one missing too.

David and Victoria’s eldest Brooklyn, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, were absent from all of the celebrations over the weekend.

The former footballer had already celebrated with a black tie pre-birthday bash in Miami and a family gathering at his £10million home in the Cotswolds.

The family also flew out of Oxford on the Friday for a wine-soaked stop in Bordeaux, before heading to Paris for a swanky dinner to toast the big 50.

Despite Brooklyn and Nicola being invited to the celebrations and both being in the UK they decided to skip the celebrations, leaving his parents heartbroken over the decision.