Ricky Gervais was born on 25th June 1961 in Reading Berkshire. The son of a French Canadian and a dinner lady who met in the black out during the Second World War. He grew up on a council estate in Reading, as the youngest of 4 brothers.

Ricky attended University College London and was awarded a degree in philosophy. He stayed on at University College as the head of entertainment at the Student Union.

There followed a series of jobs - although not, as Ricky has been quick to point out, as a pizza delivery man!

He joined Xfm - an unlicenced radio station - and although he originally was not employed as a broadcaster he found his way to a late night show. It was here he first met his collaborator Stephen Merchant.

David Brent started off as a character which Ricky called 'Seedy Boss'.

During his stint with Xfm radio, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Marchant came up with the ideas for the series which would become the international hit - The Office.

Ricky and Stephen Marchant had been working together at Xfm radio for some time, and had been forming the ideas for the characters and stories which later became David Brent and his team at Wernham Hogg. Marchant then left radio to start a producers training course with the BBC. As part of the training he had to produce a one day video shoot. He and Ricky decided to film a short film which would become the basis for the pilot of The Office

The Office was filmed in an unused office suite in Teddington. The first episode aired in July 2001. The ratings at first were fine, but not spectacular. But the critics loved The Office and it soon became a hit.

The Office has now been seen in over 60 countries and won over 20 awards. Ricky Gervais became the first British actor ever to win a TV comedy acting award at The Golden Globes.

The show format was licenced to the US and Ricky Gervais and Stephen Marchant are executive producers on the smash hit US version of The Office.

Only 12 episodes and a Christmas special of The Office were made. And Ricky Gervais has made it very clear that David Brent will never be coming back........

The Office:
The Scripts Series 2
(Scripts)

Reading the scripts from The Office of course you miss hearing and seeing the characters say the words - but what you do get is an amusing reminder of the brilliance of the series. There are things in the scripts that sometimes get lost in the series - so for true fans of The Office these scripts will complete your collection!

Extras
The Complete First Season

Meet Andy Millman, Actor. Never forgets his lines because he never gets any. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is a desperate man. He's been an actor for five years but thanks to his useless agent (Stephen Merchant), he has never done any real acting. Instead, he is a lowly film extra, making his mark in the background while the stars do their work. His partner in arms is the pitiable Maggie, a fellow extra and a hopeless romantic. Andy may be an extra, but he is a star in his own right. Too bad nobody else agrees.

Stars that Ricky Gervais signed up for the first season include Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart,Ben Stiller and Samuel L. Jackson.

Extras
The Complete Second Season

Ricky Gervais' character Andy Millman, who has worked so many years as an extra, suddenly finds success in new sitcom When The Whistle Blows.
At first Andy is amazed by his success - he has all the things that he has worked for, fame and money. But what he doesn't have is respect. His successful sitcom is full of catch phrases and innuendo and Andy becomes increasingly unhappy with the direction his career is going.
Daniel Radcliffe, David Bowie,and Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom and Chris Martin all join Ricky Gervais to make the second series of Extras as entertaining and innovative as the first.

Animals

The first Ricky Gervais stand up comedy tour filmed in the UK. Ricky's humor translates brilliantly to the stand up stage. His first TV departure from David Brent - although as he says "I am using his face and body".

The Office
The Complete Collection BBC Edition
(First And Second Series Plus Special)

Ricky Gervais master piece - The Office. Set in an office in Slough David Brent and his team agree to be part of a reality television show.
This collection takes David Brent though his career as manager of Wernham Hogg and his desperate attempt to become popular and 'integrate comedy' into the workplace.
Classic British comedy which broke new ground. Funny beyond expectations. If you have enjoyed the US version which followed this you must check out this original classic.

Politics
[Region 2]