Ricky Gervais will reportedly not be joining his The Office co-stars to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary on the BBC.
The Marmite comedian, 65, has decided to air his own anniversary special for the show on YouTube, which will incorporate elements of his new Netflix animated comedy series Alley Cats.
The BBC last week announced that Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook will reunite for a one-off tribute to the iconic sitcom’s quarter-century milestone.
The Slough-based Wernham Hogg paper company first catapulted onto our screens 25 years ago this July, launching the careers of much of its cast and spawning a behemoth US version of the show.
The BBC will mark the occasion with a special episode of its retrospective series Remembers, which celebrates popular and influential TV shows in the rearview mirror.
However, noticeably absent from the announcement was either of the show’s creators, Stephen Merchant or Gervais, who also starred as David Brent. The Sun has now reported that neither of the comedians will be involved in the special.
A source told the publication: ‘The BBC making a documentary about The Office without getting Ricky on board is a huge blow as it spoils their celebration somewhat.
‘It just sums up his lack of allegiance towards the Beeb which has been drifting for some time now.’
Gervais’s representatives told The Sun that he ‘was not available’ to take part in the special, but added that he remains in contact with the Beeb ‘all the time about The Office’.
Gervais’s absence doesn’t mean that fans of the sitcom won’t get to hear all about him during next month’s anniversary special. Crook, who played office pedant Gareth, will share behind-the-scenes tidbits, including how the creator’s on-set antics regularly threatened to derail filming.
The Detectorist star and Freeman, who played one half of the office will-they-won’t-they romance, will share their memories of making the show back in the early noughties, while also reflecting on the show’s mega TV-defining legacy.
The episode synopsis reads: ‘It’s been more than 15 years since the pair last laid eyes on each other, but the groundbreaking comedy’s 25th anniversary has brought them together once again.’
The pair will ‘share their memories of working – and laughing – alongside Ricky Gervais, co-writer Stephen Merchant, and fellow Wernham Hogg star Lucy Davis, who played Tim’s love interest, Dawn.’
Metro contacted the BBC, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for comment on this story.
The Office episode of Remembers will air Wednesday, July 8 at 10pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.