‘I MAY AS WELL TELL YOU EVERYTHING BEFORE I DIE...’

HE’S the brains behind The Office, Extras, Life’s Too Short, An Idiot Abroad, Derek, and David Brent: Life On The Road, and Ricky Gervais also proved to be a brilliant stand up when he first took to the road with his show Animals in 2003.

Thirteen years and a trilogy of shows later (complete by Politics and Fame) he came back with show four: Humanity - one originally due just to hit London theatres but about to enjoy a national tour in 2017.

But to the utter dismay of fans, it seems that Gervais is just about ready to hang up his stand-up hat.

Gervais writes on his website blog. “I also plan to do more warm-ups than usual as I want this to be my best show ever and possibly my last.

“Never say never, but with that attitude it will make me put every ounce of my soul into it.”

But why finish his stand up here? Well, his schtick is playing the arrogant, minformed know it all, Gervais goes on to explain, and he’s worried that after the turbulent social and political events of 2016, the audience is more difficult to predict.

“It’s worked well for me. But now I worry half the room agrees with those things without seeing the irony. It’s a tricky one.”

Speaking about Humanity, Gervais adds: “Thousands of people paying hard earned cash to come and see you live is such a privilege. Humanity is my angriest, most honest and I think my best tour yet. It’s probably my most personal too. I feel I may as well tell you everything before I die. Hope you enjoy it. Or not. There are no refunds. Just like life, I guess.”

If this really is Gervais’ last tour, rest assured he’ll be going out with a bang. March 13-14, 2017 at Manchester O2 Apollo