A statue of David Brent, Ricky Gervais' iconic character from The Office, has been unveiled at a Premier Inn in Slough to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the show's debut on British television. The clay sculpture, commissioned by Premier Inn, is displayed at the Slough Trading Estate hotel, which sits on the site of the old building featured in the series' opening credits.
Statue Details and Unveiling
The statue was revealed by Brent impersonator Tim Oliver, who recreated the character's distinctive stance and dance routines. Crafted by Gareth Knowles, the bust took 120 hours to complete and weighs seven kilograms. It will remain as a permanent installation at the hotel.
A spokesperson for Premier Inn said: "We're thrilled to unveil this brilliant tribute to mark its place in British comedy history. Ricky's iconic character truly put Slough on the map, and it's only fitting to honour him with this memorable statue, which we hope will be particularly popular with some of the millions of business travellers who stay with us each year."
Connection to The Office
The much-loved television series chronicled the life of David Brent, from his role as a regional manager at a paper merchants to his subsequent career as a travelling salesman. The original building, Crossbow House, was demolished in 2013 and redeveloped into the Premier Inn several years later.
The hotel chain also commissioned a survey of 2,000 adults, which revealed that David Brent's Comic Relief dance was voted the standout moment from the series, securing 26% of the vote. This was followed by Dawn's return to the Christmas party to share a kiss with Tim in the festive special, at 15%.
Nostalgia and Changing Office Life
Nearly three quarters of viewers who watched the programme regard it as a nostalgic portrayal of working life in the early 2000s, though 68% stated they would not wish to work in an environment similar to Wernham Hogg. The spokesperson added: "From tech to business attire, office life has changed drastically in the 25 years since the show aired but what hasn't changed is the need for business travellers to know what they're getting with a great night's sleep in a comfortable room ready to face the day – no matter how embarrassing their boss is."
