Paul and Ann together at last... in the after life
THE COUPLE at the centre of one of the greatest unrequited sitcom romances have finally got together – thanks to
Ricky Gervais.
Millions of viewers used to tune in to the BBC’S Ever Decreasing Circles to see if fusspot Richard Briers’s long-suffering wife Ann – played by Penelope Wilton – would eventually pair up with smooth neighbour Paul – actor Peter Egan.
Now, 36 years after the first episode aired, they finally walk off into the sunset in a scene in Gervais’s hit Netflix show After Life.
Bafta and Emmy award-winning Gervais’s charactertony plays matchmaker to the couple in the second series.
Penelope, 73, plays a widow whose graveside meetings withtony help him find a way through his own grief. Peter,
73, is the widower owner of the local paper Ricky’s character works on.
The older couple – who even have the same character names, Paul and Ann, as they did in the 1980s sitcom – walk off together after meeting on a church bench.
At its peak, 12 million viewers tuned in to the BBC One show, which saw Ann married to stuffy Martin – but tempted by former Army officer Paul’s easy charm.
Gervais is still a self-confessed fan and seven years ago begged BBC bosses to rebroadcast the show as a tribute to star
Richard Briers, who had died aged 79.The comic tweeted: “Dear BBC, I’ll let you repeatthe Office for free if you repeat Ever Decreasing Circles.”
Actress Penelope confirmed: “When I met him, he told me he was a fan of
Ever Decreasing Circles. He called my character Ann as a little homage.”
A third series of After Life has already been commissioned by streaming giant
Netflix as part of an eight-figure deal for Gervais.
He will write new scripted series and perform in stand-up comedy specials.
Last week he said: “I was planning to retire soon and just wander around the house drunk until I die, but I’ve grown a bit tired of doing that during lockdown.
“Netflix also made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”