James Corden met with awkward silence over raunchy Dame Judi Dench joke at awards show

James Corden left guests stunned at the 2025 Breakthrough Prize ceremony after making an off-colour joke involving Dame Judi Dench and Dr Anthony Fauci.

The Gavin & Stacey actor (46) took the stage at the star-studded Los Angeles gala and attempted to lighten the mood with a controversial quip linking the 90-year-old acting legend to the former White House chief medical advisor.

“Tonight is the one night that Hollywood and science come together,” Corden told the audience before adding, “Other than, of course, that one magical evening where Dr Fauci had a one-night stand with Dame Judi Dench.”

As reported by the Daily Mail, the comment didn’t land well, prompting an awkward silence in the room. Cameras reportedly cut to a visibly stunned Olivia Wilde, among the many celebrities in attendance.

Despite the uncomfortable reaction, Corden and Dench have a working history, having appeared together on his now-ended late-night talk show and in the widely panned 2019 musical Cats.

The Breakthrough Prize ceremony, which celebrates major achievements in science and research, raked in a high-profile crowd this year.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Lizzo, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg were all spotted at the event, which was later streamed on YouTube with the joke mentioned above cut out.

However, you can watch the awkward moment below via Daily Mail.

This isn’t the first time Corden has made headlines at an awards show.

Back in 2010, while hosting the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, he became embroiled in a live spat with Sir Patrick Stewart.

The X-Men star called out James Corden for appearing disinterested while others were on stage. The veteran actor interrupted the flow of the ceremony to comment on Corden’s body language.

Stewart said, “When the presenters are up here and when the recipients are receiving their awards, don’t stand at the back of the stage with your hands in your pockets looking around as though you wished you were anywhere but here.”

Corden, clearly caught off guard, responded just as sharply.

He said in response, “Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong, Sir. You couldn’t be more wrong. If it looked like that, I’m so sorry.”

“But when you come up to present an award, just f***ing get on with it.”