Tag Archives: Ricky Gervais

May 9, 2012 · 4:13 pm

Derek series gets go-ahead

Pilkington and Gervais star in Derek

Ricky Gervais’ comedy drama, Derek, has been commissioned by Channel 4, it has been confirmed.

One episode of the show, starring Gervais as care home worker Derek Noakes, was broadcast by the Channel in April and received the highest audience figures for a scripted comedy in nearly two years.

Head of Comedy at Channel 4, Shane Allen, said of the news:

“The pilot triggered an amazing response and Derek’s story had only just begun so it’s brilliant that we can explore this world and its beautifully drawn characters across a series”

Gervais, 50, also commented:

“David Brent [of The Office] was an egotistical, failed musician and the most annoying man in the world.

“Derek is a 50 year old man with bad hair and clothes, whose best friend is a whinging bald Manc twonk. Where do I get my ideas from?”

Derek follows the lives of a “group of outsiders living of societies margins” and stars Karl Pilkington as landlord, Dougie and Kerry Godliman as a care worker at the home.

The series will again be written and directed by Gervais and is set to air next year.

Related: New Idiot Abroad series confirmed

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April 26, 2012 · 1:04 pm

New Idiot Abroad series confirmed

Karl will have Warwick to keep him company this time

Sky has announced that it has commissioned a third series of Ricky Gervais’ An Idiot Abroad.

This time, the hapless Karl Pilkington will be joined on his travels by Life’s Too Short and Harry Potter star, Warwick Davis.

Previous series’ have seen Karl sent to see the Seven Wonders of the World and on a journey of a lifetime to experience the untilate Things to do Before You Die.

The comedian has now persuaded Mancunian Karl to embark on an epic journey, following the footsteps of famous explorer Marco Polo from Italy to China.

Ricky, said of the new series:

“Karl once said to me that opposites attract. Warwick Davis is sociable, hardworking and never complains. They should get along fine.”

According to Sky, An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Round “will follow Karl and Warwick as they get stuck into different cultures and traditions, illuminated by Karl’s trademark observations about the world and Warwick’s varying experiences as a little person in different countries”.

Of the new series, Pilkington commented:

“I don’t know how it will work out. Honestly. Edmund Hillary had that Tenzing fella, Ben Fogle had James Cracknell. I’ve been given an Ewok.”

An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Round will air on Sky One and Sky One HD this December.

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March 20, 2012 · 2:19 pm

New Gervais pilot gets go ahead

Derek will appear on Channel 4 this April

The pilot episode for Ricky Gervais’ new sitcom, Derek, will be screened on Channel 4 next month, it has been confirmed.

Written and directed by Gervais, Derek is a bittersweet one-off drama about a “group of outsiders living on societies margins”, according to BAFTA.

Gervais is, however, hoping that the nursing home-centred comedy will be commissioned for a full series.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said of the programme:

“Channel 4 is very excited to be working with Ricky Gervais on this new project and it’s wrong to say we have rejected a series.

“The pilot will be on TV in April and then there’ll be further discussions about the potential for a full series.”

The show will see Gervais play retirement home worker Derek Noakes, alongside Kerry Godliman, who stars as his friend, Hannah.

Karl Pilkington will also appear in the show as Dougie, Derek’s employer.

Derek will be screened by BAFTA at the Princess Anne Theatre on 27 March and on Channel 4 this April.

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January 16, 2012 · 11:31 am

Gervais back to his best at the Globes

Ricky returned to for a third time

Ricky Gervais picked up where he left off last night, as he fronted the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in the U.S. for the third time in a row.

Gervais didn’t disappoint and ahered to his usual style, poking fun at an assortment of assembled A-Listers, including Eddie Murphy, Jodie Foster and Justin Bieber.

The 50-year-old kicked off by asking “so where was I?”, surveying the crowd and telling them, “nervous? Don’t be, this isn’t about you”.

He took a playful swipe at the awards themselves first, saying:

“For any of you who don’t know, the Golden Globes are just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem.

“The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought. Allegedly.

“Who needs the Oscars? Not me and not Eddie Murphy [original host of next month's Academy Awards]. When the man who said yes to Norbit says no to you, you know you’re in trouble.”

The comedian also revealed that Globe bosses had given him a list of rules this year, saying:

“This is real. No profanity… No nudity… I mustn’t mention Mel Gibson this year.”

Award-winners for 2012 included Michelle Williams, who bagged Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, George Clooney for Best Actor and Meryl Streep for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Gervais previously hosted the awards in 2010 and 2011. This year, however, award bosses allegedly imposed a seven-second time delay on the comedian, in a bid to cut out any offensive comments.

This year’s ceremony was held at Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on 15 January.

Related: Gervais in Golden Globe return

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November 17, 2011 · 10:39 am

Gervais in Golden Globe return

Ricky returning for the third time

Ricky Gervais is to host the Golden Globes for the third time in a row, despite the controversy he drew from presenting the event last year.

The news was announced via the official Golden Globes Twitter account last night, with a post that read:

“Ricky Gervais will host the 69th Golden Globe Awards on January 15, 2012.”

Organisers the Hollywood Foreign Press Association then confirmed the news in a statement:

“After weeks of rumours, it’s finally official – Ricky Gervais will be back to host the Golden Globes for a third year.

“While many welcome Gervais’ return, not everyone is happy with the decision because last year his blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities caused anger and resentment in some quarters.”

Gervais’ last turn as host in January caused some controversy, after he openly poked fun at celebrities – many of whom were in the audience – and the HFPA.

His performance left many wondering if he would return to host the show again, with Gervais himself dismissing the possibility of presenting it again.

However, the statement continued, explaining that the Life’s Too Short star had “gradually warmed to the idea and last month met with HFPA president Dr Aida Takla-O’Reilly in Paris to discuss it”.

The ceremony will be held in the US on 15 January 2012.

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October 31, 2011 · 10:52 am

Tributes flood in for Sir Jimmy Savile

Jimmy died aged 84

Tributes are being paid to Sir Jimmy Savile who has died at the age of 84.

A DJ, television presenter and fundraiser, Sir Jimmy was renowned for his trademark tracksuits, gold chains and cigars, but he was also extremely charitable, and is thought to have raised more than £40m for good causes in his lifetime.

Details of how the broadcaster died are not yet known, however, the BBC is reporting that he died quietly in his sleep.

Tributes have begun to pour in for the star, with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall among those passing on their condolences.

A Clarence House spokesperson said:

“The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death and their thoughts are with his family at this time.”

A host of celebrities have also paid tribute via Twitter, with Lord Alan Sugar posting:

“Sad news on the death of Jimmy Savile, very funny man and did loads of work for charity. RIP.”

Comedian Ricky Gervais also paid his respects, tweeting:

“RIP Jimmy Savile My first guest on my first TV show. A proper British eccentric.”

Born in 1926, Sir Jimmy became a DJ on Radio One, before fronting the original series of Top of the Pops in 1964.

In 1975, he landed his own family show, Jim’ll Fix It. At its peak, the show attracted 20,000 letters every week from those who wanted Jimmy to grant their wish.

A long-time friend of the royal family, he was knighted by the Queen back in 1990.

Sir Jimmy passed away on 29 October.

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September 13, 2011 · 10:44 am

Gervais: I’m too famous for pubs

'People tell me I've changed'

Ricky Gervais has spoken about the downside of fame, revealing that it’s impossible for him to go down the pub for a pint.

The Office star has said that popping down to his local is now a thing of the past, telling The Sun:

“As soon as I got on the cusp of fame I stopped.

“I miss the pub but you can’t do it. Life is too short. People are lovely but someone will come and sit down and ask, ‘Can I join you for a pint?’ And I say, ‘No, I don’t know you, so obviously not.’

“People then tell me, ‘You’ve changed’ and then I think, ‘I haven’t, I never used to drink with ****ing strangers’. So now I just avoid the situation.”

Fifty-year-old Gervais also spoke about his recent weight loss, rubbishing claims that it was down to a new ‘LA persona’:

“I have got fit after running around Hampstead. I also have a gym in my house.

“It’s nothing to do with Hollywood or looking good. I thought enough is enough. I need to look after myself. I don’t want to die.”

Ricky’s new series, An Idiot Abroad: The Bucket List airs this month on Sky1 and sees Karl Pilkington being sent to undertake a list of challenges you should do before you die.

The series has already caused controversy over in the States, with rockers Van Halen trying to ban an episode in which Karl performs their hit, Jump, with a Glee-style chorus group.

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June 30, 2011 · 12:39 pm

An Idiot Abroad returns for a second series

Back but not happy

In 2010, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant sent their hapless pal Karl Pilkington on a journey to discover the Seven Wonders of the World in An Idiot Abroad.

Now, despite Karl’s best efforts, he has been convinced to return for a second series this September, saying:

“What else am I going to do? When you’ve been in a programme called An Idiot Abroad, other job offers aren’t going to be flying in, are they?

“At least Wagner off X Factor could go back to Brazil… Because An Idiot Abroad has been on all over the world, I can’t escape being known as ‘the idiot’. Ricky did that.”

An Idiot Abroad 2 will see Karl set out to fulfil a list of Things To Do Before You Die.

He will be dispatched to far flung corners of the world to complete his definitive bucket list – such as swimming with dolphins, travelling Route 66 and staying on a desert island – all in an attempt to prove whether they really are what they’re cracked up to be.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are both happy to go along with Karl’s wishes to get him through the departure gates.

However, once Karl’s back on the road, they’re sure to be back to their old tricks, throwing in unwelcome surprises for Karl along the way to make sure he’s always pushed out of his comfort zone.

Ricky said:

“When we asked Karl to list his Things to do before you die, the only thing he could think of was ‘work in B & Q part time’. So we decided to make a list for him.”

An Idiot Abroad 2 starts in September 2011 on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1.

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