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Gervais slams British comedy

The Office star Ricky Gervais has admitted he’s given up on British telly comedy – because the Americans are better at it.

"I don't watch TV comedy in the UK anymore,” he told The Sun. “We've got some poor copies of Curb Your Enthusiasm, some poor copies of Entourage and some poor copies of Seinfeld. With a few exceptions the Americans seem to be ahead of the game."

The star blames a flaw in the British psyche for the substandard sitcoms that are being churned out. "In Britain, it's like you shouldn't put your head too high above the other poppies,” he said. “I think it's the way we're brought up. Americans are told they can become the next president. English people are told, 'It won't happen to you'."

Ricky is currently starring in and directing new movie Cemetery Junction with his The Office and Extras writing partner Stephen Merchant, who also directs. And Ricky says he’s upped his game in recent years.

"In the early days [Stephen would] have to say to me, 'Rick, don't have three sausages, you'll fall asleep after lunch.' But now, unbelievably, I'm the workaholic. I think it's because I don't want to die before I get all my ideas out.

"I started so late,” he added. “And it takes me ages to get the ideas out because we write and produce and act and we worry about the font on the end of the DVD. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Stop nattering, Gervais, and get back to work.

by Will Parkhouse, Tuesday 30 June 2009

Source: The Sun
Picture: PA

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