Stephen Merchant (born 24 November 1974 in Bristol, England) is a comedy writer and performer. He is best known as the 6'7" co-writer and co-director with Ricky Gervais of the The Office and Extras. Merchant and Gervais also co-presented a long-running radio show for Xfm, where they also met producer Karl Pilkington. The trio have since left Xfm and have done three series of their world-record breaking podcasts along with 3 additional holiday podcasts at the end of 2006.
Merchant's other work includes directing a one-off comedy called The Last Chancers for Channel 4 starring Adam Buxton from Adam & Joe. He had a recurring role in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace as a Chef, and voiced Mr.Phillips, the gym teacher, on the short lived Channel 4 cartoon, Bromwell High. In 2004, he worked as a Script Associate on the Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker sitcom Nathan Barley, and had a cameo in Green Wing. Merchant is also credited as an Executive Producer for the American version of The Office, and with Gervais wrote the 30 November 2006 episode "The Convict."
Merchant can be currently heard on The Steve Show on BBC 6Music each Sunday from 3-5pm GMT.
Jason Byrne & Smerch Jason discusses Guantanamo Bay with Smerch backstage from the Amnesty International gig Here. (16 Oct 2006)
Policeman Smerch Steve Merchant interviews Chevy Chase and Jimmy Fallon for the Secret Policeman's ball Here. (30 Oct 2006 & 6 Nov 2006)
The Final Podcast? With Ricky Gervais saying this will be the last series of the podcasts, will today's be the last? No, it won't. The podcasts will be released on CD and that will include a brand new one hour show. But will that be the last...? (26 Sept 2006)
The Office (US) Wins Emmy The American version of The Office scooped 'Outstanding Comedy Series' at last night's Emmy awards, beating competition from Arrested Development, Scrubs, Two and a Half Men and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Ricky and Steve were in the audience and were given props.
