Ricky Gervais has broken his silence on why he will not participate in the BBC's planned reunion of The Office, announcing instead that he will produce his own documentary to mark the sitcom's 25th anniversary.
BBC's Reunion Plans
The BBC is airing a special episode of Remembers on July 8 on BBC Two, featuring Martin Freeman (Tim) and Mackenzie Crook (Gareth) looking back at the show and sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Gervais, who co-created the series with Stephen Merchant and played David Brent, will not be present.
According to a representative for Gervais, the star was simply "not available" to take part in the BBC's show, but remains in contact with the broadcaster "all the time" about the beloved sitcom. The representative emphasized that there is "no rift" between Gervais and the BBC.
Gervais's Own Celebration
Gervais has decided to film his own documentary for his YouTube channel, set to be released on July 9—the exact anniversary of The Office's first episode. The representative described it as "an affectionate look back on this big anniversary." Co-creator Stephen Merchant will also not appear in the BBC's documentary.
After The Office, Gervais and Merchant created other BBC shows like Afterlife and Extras. However, Gervais has since made comedies for other broadcasters, including Channel 4's Derek and Netflix's animated series Alley Cats.
Past Criticism of BBC
In 2019, Gervais told GQ that he was "still a fan" of the BBC but wished it would be "braver." He said: "I wish it wouldn't bow down to pressure from media or from one complaint. That has got worse, and the days are gone when people say, 'We're leaving it as it is'. Commissioning editors are scared of being fired."
His comments followed the BBC's decision to add content warnings for discriminatory language on some The Office episodes available on iPlayer.
What the BBC Documentary Will Cover
Though Gervais will not appear, the BBC documentary will still mention him. Freeman and Crook will share anecdotes, including how Gervais nearly "ruined" filming daily with his jokes. They will also discuss Freeman's audition for the role of Gareth, the experience of being at the heart of "Office-mania" at the show's peak, and their favorite moments from the UK's two series.
