Meet Ricky Gervais
| Meet Ricky Gervais | |
 A Meet Ricky Gervais title card. | |
| Genre | Comedy chat and sketch show |
| Running time | 24 mins. |
| Creator(s) | Ricky Gervais |
| Writer(s) | Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Jimmy Carr, Robin Ince |
| Starring | Ricky Gervais, Tony Green |
| Country | UK |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Original runs | 22 September 2000 – 27 October 2000 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| IMDB Profile | |
Meet Ricky Gervais was a chat show written and hosted by the comedy writer and performer, Ricky Gervais. It was produced by Talkback for Channel 4 in 2000 (repeated 2003) after the first UK edition of Big Brother and only ran for one series on Friday nights.
This show aired throughout the time Ricky Gervais was also writing the first series of the highly successful, The Office for BBC2.
Summary
The show was predominantly a chat show hosted by Ricky Gervais with elements of stand-up, sketches and game shows also present. Ricky would interview two guests each week, 'supposedly' in the original TV studio chairs of famous people. Gervais was seated in Michael Aspel's Aspel & Co leather chair and guests seated in Ronnie Corbett's monologue chair, and Grandad from Only Fools and Horses' armchair.
The show also featured Darts assistant, Tony Green who would take his place as the general stooge and gameshow assistant. On the first episode, Gervais claimed that Tony came free with the original Bullseye dartboard, which he supposedly found himself whilst building the rest of the set. Tony Green played the role of the comic foil and a gay love interest for Ricky in sketches.
The show didn't have a theme tune so at the end of each show, Gervais asked viewers to record and send in their own mixes. Two of the episodes used a theme tune co-written and performed by Stewart Ferris.
Cast and Guests
Cast
- Ricky Gervais ... host
- Tony Green ... sidekick
Guests
- Tommy Walsh
- Jimmy Saville
- John Virgo
- Michael Winner
- Penny Smith
- Tony Hart
- Paul Daniels
- Wayne Hemmingway
- Peter Purves
- Stephanie Powers
- Anthony Worral Thompson
- Midge Ure
Supporting Cast
- Stephen Merchant ... Stephen Merchant
- Stirling Gallacher ... VT clock voiceover
- Nicola Cotter ... Nicola
- Tony MacMurray ... Tony
Episodes
The first and only series of Meet Ricky Gervais was first broadcast in the UK between 22 September 2000 and 27 October 2000. The series ran for six episodes.
Availability
The show originally aired on Channel 4 in late 2000. It was later reran in 2003. It is available to watch for free on Channel 4's on demand service; 4oD. The show is now being repeated on the freeview channel 4music. No DVD release is available and likely will never be.
Trivia
- To this day, Ricky Gervais admits that this show was an embarrassment and has since been mocked even by Gervais himself.
- Karl Pilkington, on the other hand, said he was a fan of the show before he met Ricky.