Ricky Gervais

Equipped with a degree in philosophy, Ricky Gervais, like most comedians didn't set out to make a career in comedy. He fell into it after a brief career in a pop band and a stint managing the band Suede. His comedy roots took hold while striking up a rapport with Stephen Merchant on XFM Radio between 1997-2001. David Brent was based on their boss at the studio.

During the same period, his break into television began with a slot on the 11 O'Clock Show followed by his own, less successful chat show Meet Ricky Gervais in 2000.  The turning point came in 2001 when the sitcom The Office which he co-wrote with Merchant, became a huge hit with a cult following. It was the first British show to win a Golden Globe Award on top of three BAFTAs.

Producing a multitude of fans, the series catapulted Gervais into the mainstream arena and furthered his stand-up career. His second show Extras was another multi-award winning hit across the globe and Gervais' success meant he was able to recruit big name celebrities to star in it.

When it comes to stand-up there aren't many in the business that could top Gervais. He moves from juvenile and silly gags to intelligent and thoughtful reflections with remarkable ease. One minute he can be talking about the theory of evolution and the next making a joke about raping grannies. A true comedy legend whose worldwide success will see him go down in history as one of our greatest comedians.

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