No.1 FOR TELLY + No.1 FOR TELLY + No.1 FOR TELLY RICKY: David Brent’s a reality inspiration
‘NOW EVERY SHOW’S GOT AN ODDBALL’
COMEDY star Ricky Gervais says his most famous creation sparked a surge of oddballs on telly.
The 57-year-old keeps seeing real-life versions of The Office’s David Brent.
He told the Daily Star Sunday: “There is always a guy on every series of Love Island that people say is the new David Brent.
“And there are three David Brents on every Apprentice. They’re basically people who have no shame saying funny things.”
Ricky thinks Bros stars Luke and Matt Goss are also just like his weirdo fictional boss.
He said: “When the Bros documentary came out recently I got so many messages about it. I watched it and some of the Brentisms were fantastic. I genuinely loved it. It was great.”
Ricky also takes full responsibility for joke contestants on Strictly, like Ed Balls and John Sergeant.
His most famous moment as Brent was doing a wacky dance.
And he added: “There’s always the ironic contestant now. David Brent would love to do Strictly. The image of him doing that dance comes up on social media all the time.
“When I see that footage I don’t even think it’s me. It looks like some sort of demented orangutan. I don’t know how I did it. I don’t know how I threw those shapes.
“I remember on the day, we basically did three takes of me going mental. I look back at it and laugh. I really don’t know how it happened.
“I couldn’t do it now. It looks choreographed, but it’s how a dog would dance. And because I’ve got short legs the kick looks spectacular.”
The Office has gone down in TV history thanks to Brent’s persona. Ricky admits it taught him how to make must-see comedy.
He said: “Imagine if I’d sent the script of The Office off to the BBC… ‘Middle-aged man who says things that aren’t funny and touches his tie’. I had to show them it. I did a little demo.
“I realised it’s all about performance. David Brent was as much about body language as what he said.”
Ricky has gone on to make a number of hit shows, including Derek and Extras. He’s so successful these days he can pick and choose who he writes characters for.
For his new Netflix show After Life he called on pals including Kerry Godliman, 45.
Ricky said: “It’s easier when I know who I’m writing for. I couldn’t have done that 20 years ago when I did The Office.
“When you’re writing that way, you naively think that person exists somewhere and they’ll look exactly like you want them to.
“But, of course, they don’t. So you have to find the perfect person.”