Extras

Extras
[l-r] Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, Ashley Jensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Ross Kemp
Genre	Comedy (sitcom)
Running time	28 mins.
Creator(s)	Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant
Writer(s)	Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant
Starring	Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson
Country	UK
Network	BBC
Original runs	21 July 2005 – 25 August 2005
No. of episodes	6
	IMDB Profile

Extras is a sitcom about extras working on movie sets and theatre. It is written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The series is filmed in a more traditional sitcom style than the mockumentary style used by Gervais and Merchant's previous award winning series The Office. The series is a BBC/HBO co-production which first aired on 21 July 2005 on BBC Two in the UK and premiered on 25 September 2005 on HBO in the U.S.. The first series DVD was released in the UK on 31 October 2005. The second series was premiered in the UK on BBC Two at 22:00 on Thursday 14 September 2006. A Christmas Special is being filmed, featuring guest stars Clive Owen, George Michael amongst others.

Premise

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Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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Initially, Extras' followed Andy Millman and his friend Maggie Jacobs as they worked as extras on film and TV sets and in theatre, but whereas Maggie continues to work as an extra, Andy is now the star of a BBC sitcom which he wrote. In series one, each episode was based around a different film with Andy and Maggie playing extras. Andy tends to spend a lot of his time looking for ways to get a speaking role, while Maggie is more content with looking among the cast and crew for a boyfriend. Meanwhile, Andy's agent Darren Lamb would fail to procure Andy any substantial roles. And in every episode at least one guest star, usually a television/film celebrity, would play what Gervais and Merchant have referred to as "twisted" versions of themselves.

In series two, celebrity cameos are still a feature. But while film and TV sets are still a major location for both Maggie who's still an extra, and Andy who is working on the set of his own sitcom, Andy's "celebrity" is taking them to new places, e.g. awards ceremonies and celebrity-inhabited clubs and bars. This shift has also seen Andy's agent Darren Lamb and sidekick Barry/Shaun Williamson come out of their office and accompany Andy to various places.

The series has no traditional opening credits theme tune. Each episode usually begins with a short segment from the production on which either Andy and/or Maggie are working, followed by a fade into the white Extras logo on a black background. Each episode does, however, end with the same music over the closing credits: an excerpt from the Cat Stevens song Tea for the Tillerman", the title track from his 1970 album.

Cast/Characters

Main Cast

• Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman

Andy used to work in a bank, but left to pursue his life-long dream of becoming an actor. Sadly, he hasn't made it yet, and he is forced to scrape a living as an extra on the sets of various film and television productions. Being around far more successful performers has, not unnaturally, made him rather cynical and bitter about the whole process. Still, he gives it his best shot, though he usually fails in his attempts to improve his lot - partly due to his agent's utter incompetence, partly due to events and people beyond his control, but mostly due to his own ability to step right in it and then dig a hole for himself when trying to extricate himself.

• Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs

Maggie is Andy's best friend and fellow extra. Maggie is a genuinely sweet, well-meaning Scottish soul, who only wants to help. Unfortunately, her general social incompetence and complete lack of any sort of internal censor means that she is more likely to say precisely the wrong thing to the wrong person at exactly the wrong time, despite her lack of malicious intent - which usually means that she is just as likely to humiliate Andy as help him. Maggie is constantly on the lookout for Mr. Right, but her frequent attempts are usually frustrated quite spectacularly.

Recurring Cast

• Stephen Merchant as Darren Lamb (referred to in Series 1 credits as "Agent")

Darren Lamb is literally the worst agent in the history of acting. Incapable of breaking an act, his usual negotiating tactic is to agree with whatever anyone else says, or, more likely, suggest someone other than his client for the part. He is very good at deducting his 12.5% commission, however. His skill at his profession can be summed up by the fact that he once left his office phone unplugged for two days without noticing.

• Shaun Williamson as Barry (Himself)

Shaun Williamson plays himself as one of Darren's clients. He used to play Barry Evans on the soap opera EastEnders, but left to pursue a multi-million pound contract elsewhere. As Darren is his agent, this was a spectacular failure, and the most recent job his agent has managed to secure for him is changing a light bulb. It says a lot about Shaun's career prospects that even his own agent doesn't know his real name, but instead calls him "Barry from EastEnders". He is, quite naturally, very depressed about his life.

• Shaun Pye as Greg

Greg is a fellow extra. Unlike Andy, he has often secured a line in various productions; as a result, he possesses an extremely high opinion of himself and is extremely belittling to Andy and his fellow extras. Underneath this, he is extremely petty, jealous and snide - probably because he wouldn't be doing so well if it weren't for the support given by his wealthy parents.

Guest Stars

Series One

Ben Stiller
Ross Kemp
Vinnie Jones
Kate Winslet
Les Dennis
Samuel L Jackson
Patrick Stewart

Series Two

• Episode 1

Orlando Bloom

Keith Chegwin

Sophia Myles

• Episode 2

David Bowie

• Episode 3

Daniel Radcliffe

Warwick Davis

Diana Rigg

Matthew Wright and Lowri Turner (The Wright Stuff)

Nick Ferrari (LBC 97.3)

Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield (This Morning)

Richard and Judy

• Episode 4

Chris Martin

Ronnie Corbett

Richard Briers

Moira Stuart

Davina McCall

Patricia Potter

Stephen Fry

• Episode 5

Sir Ian McKellen

Germaine Greer

Mark Kermode

Mark Lawson

• Episode 6

Jonathan Ross

Robert Lindsay

Robert De Niro

See also

• List of Extras episodes

External Links

• BBC - Comedy
• Extras at Ricky Gervais' official website
• British Sitcom Guide
• Extras at the TV IV wiki