Timeline

A timeline of the history and development of the shows, and the careers of the three main performers.

1961

• June 25th: Ricky Gervais is born in Reading

1972

• September 23rd: Karl Pilkington is born in Manchester

1974

• November 24th: Stephen Merchant is born in Bristol

1997

• September 1st: Xfm is launched. The first song is "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead. DJ Claire Sturgess hosts a show in which Ricky, in his role as head of speech, pops in and out to contribute.

1998

• January: Ricky and Steve begin their first show (Series 0) on Xfm.
• August 23rd Ricky and Steve take voluntary redundancy from Xfm
• August 24th Xfm goes off the air without explanation as the station is sold to Capital.
• August 28th Capital-owned Xfm goes on the air, with a much less rambunctious format.
• September 8th: Ricky and Steve's sitcom pilot, Golden Years, is broadcast on Channel 4 as part of the Comedy Lab strand.
• October Karl Pilkington inadvertently ends DJ Gail Porter's career with Xfm after only two shows by criticizing her, making her cry.

1999

• October 26th: The third series of the 11 O'Clock Show begins, now featuring Ricky Gervais.

2000

• September 22nd: Meet Ricky Gervais is first broadcast on Channel 4.

2001

• 09 July The Office Episode 1 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 16 July The Office Episode 2 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 23 July The Office Episode 3 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 30 July The Office Episode 4 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 13 August The Office Episode 5 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 20 August The Office Episode 6 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• September: Ricky and Steve return to Xfm with a new show, with Karl Pilkington as their producer. Series 1, and the show as we know it, begins.

2002

• 04 May Ricky and Steve take a break to film the second series of The Office, marking the end of series 1.
• 24 August: Ricky and Steve return, and Series 2 begins.
• 31 August An early version of Rockbusters is played for the first time
• 30 September The Office Episode 7 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 07 October The Office Episode 8 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 14 October The Office Episode 9 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 21 October The Office Episode 10 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 28 October The Office Episode 11 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 04 November The Office Episode 12 is broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm
• 21 November The Last Chancers, another Comedy Lab pilot is broadcast, directed by Stephen Merchant.

2003

• 25 January Monkey News makes its debut.
• 16 August Xfm Series 2 ends after 51 weeks, as Ricky and Steve go off to film The Office Christmas specials. The show's future hangs on whether Karl decides to return.
• 01 November The show does return, as Karl now has Mondays off, and Series 3 begins
• 26 December The Office Christmas Special (Part 1) is broadcast on BBC1.
• 27 December The Office Christmas Special (Part 2) is broadcast on BBC1.

2004

• January 17th: Series 3 draws to a close.

2005

• May 28th: The show returns with the six-week Series 4.
• July 2nd: The last show of the series, and of any Xfm series ends early as Ricky will be introducing REM at Live 8.
• July 20th: Extras begins on BBC2.
• December 5th: The first series of 12 weekly Podcasts begin, free on Guardian Unlimited
• December 24th and 31st: Ricky, Steve and Karl stand in for Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2 over the Christmas period.
• December 27th-29th: Karl co-presents three 6Music Shows with Russell Brand

2006

• January 23rd: The first excerpts of Karl's Diary are read in Podcast episode 8.
• February 20th: Podcast Series 1 draws to a close.
• February 27th: Podcast Series 2 begins, 6 weeks in length and no longer free, available on iTunes or Audible.
• March 24th: The first Video Podcast is released, the beginning of a free, irregular, continuing series.
• April: Karl appears on a few more episodes of Russell Brand's 6 Music show, but contractual obligations force him to pull out.
• April 4th: Podcast Series 2 ends.
• 14 August Life -the first of four documentaries by Karl Pilkington is broadcast at 19:55 on Channel 4 as part of the 3 Minute Wonder strand.
• 15 August Holidays -the second of four documentaries by Karl Pilkington is broadcast at 19:55 on Channel 4 as part of the 3 Minute Wonder strand.
• 16 August Health -the third of four documentaries by Karl Pilkington is broadcast at 19:55 on Channel 4 as part of the 3 Minute Wonder strand.
• 17 August Nature -the fourth of four documentaries by Karl Pilkington is broadcast at 19:55 on Channel 4 as part of the 3 Minute Wonder strand.
• 22 August After a break in order to film Extras Series 2, the Podcasts return with Series 3, the same deal as Series 2.
• 31 August Ricky Gervais appears on Richard & Judy to talk about the forthcoming series of Extras. (YouTube)
• 14 September Series 2 of Extras begins.
• 18 September The World of Karl Pilkington is released in the UK
• 26 September Podcast Series 3 ends with the suggestion that there will be a break before the next series.
• 5 October Ricky Gervais is interviewed on BBC News 24 by Huw Edwards. (YouTube)
• 31 October The first of The Podfather Trilogy ('Halloween') is released free through Guardian Unlimited.
• 23 November The second of The Podfather Trilogy ('Thanksgiving') is released free through Guardian Unlimited.
• 25 December The final episode of The Podfather Trilogy ('Christmas') is released free through Guardian Unlimited.

2007

• 1 July At the Concert For Diana Ricky Gervais is forced to fill time because Elton John is late. Ricky does the David Brent dance from The Office and sings the David Bowie song from Extras. Gervais' performance is panned by the critics.
• 7 July Ricky Gervais appears at the London leg of Live Earth concert to introduce Rob Reiner and Spinal Tap. On stage Gervais said, 'Now listen, we're running late, so I'm gonna be off this stage in 30 seconds, whether Elton John is fucking ready or not,' making him one of a number of people to swear on live TV at the event.
• 10 August Stardust is released in the USA.
• 7 September Run, Fat Boy, Run is released in the UK. Simon Pegg stars, Stephen Merchant has a cameo.
• 4 October Happyslapped By A Jellyfish is published in the UK.
• 19 October Stardust is released in the UK.
• 20 October Karl Pilkington appears on The Culture Show (BBC 2) in a taped segment in which he talks about his anxiety about publishing his second book and visits the Cheltenham Litrature Festival.
• 22 October Karl Pilkington: Satisfied Fool is broadcast at 11:05pm on Channel 4.
• 29 October Happyslapped By A Jellyfish is published in the USA.
• 2 November Ricky Gervais appears in a taped segment on The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz on Channel 4. This show was marking the 25th anniversary of Channel 4.
• 7 November Stephen Merchant appears on Danny Baker's BBC London radio show. He talks about not being able to direct The Office (US Series) because of the WGA strike.
• 9 November Newsnight Review (BBC 2) broadcasts an brief interview of Ricky Gervais on the set of Ghost Town
• 10 November the Indepedent publishes a long interview with Ricky Gervais. It can be read here (screengrab)
• 11 November the Sunday Herald of Scotland publishes a long interview with Ricky Gervais. It can be read here (screengrab)
• 12 November Fame is released on DVD in the UK.
• 13 November Ricky Gervais appears on ITV's This Morning. He mentions that he gets text messages from Princes William and Harry. (Youtube)
• 14 November Ricky Gervais releases a video via his website congratulating BAFTA on its 60th birthday (YouTube)
• 19 November An extended two-minute trailer for the Extras Christmas Special is released via rickygervais.com (YouTube)
• 16 December Extras Christmas Special premieres on HBO.
• 26 December Extras Christmas Special premieres on BBC 1.

2008

• 3 February The third series of The Steve Show begins.Download here.
• 22 February Ricky Gervais: New Hero of Comedy airs on Channel 4. This tribute to the Chubby Funster can be downloaded here
• March Ricky starts a blog for his film The Invention of Lying (previously known as This Side of the Truth)
• 26 April Commentary by Ricky and Robin Ince for the Politics DVD released for free on iTunes.
• May The Podfather Trilogy ( a 'free gift to the fans') is re-released as an audiobook on iTunes UK and Audible UK
• 9 June Ricky, Steve and Karl make their triumphant return to radio on NME Radio.
• 18 September Ghost Town premieres in America, it grosses $5,012,315 in the opening weekend.
• 1 October 2008 Karl's third book Karlology is published in the UK. Buy from the Pilki-shop UK here
• 20 October 2008 Karlology is published in the US. Buy from the Pilki-shop US here here.
• 24 October Ghost Town premieres in the UK.
• 15 November Ricky's fourth stand up show Out Of England is released as a HBO special. It contains material from Ricky's other stand up shows Animals, Politics and Fame
• 23 December The first in the new series of audiobooks is released. Download the The Ricky Gervais Guide To... Medicine on iTunes UK

2009

• 14th September The Invention of Lying co-written and co-directed by Ricky is released.

2010

• 19th February The Ricky Gervais Show animated series begins on HBO.
• 14th April Cemetery Junction is released.
• 2nd June Karl's fourth book titled An Idiot Abroad: The Travel Diaries of Karl Pilkington is published.
• 21st August The Ricky Gervais Show won an Outstanding Individual in Animation Emmy for the episode 'Charity.'
• 5th September An Idiot Abroad Series One debuts on Sky One.
• 22nd November Ricky's Science stand-up tour DVD is released.

2011

• 14th January The second series of The Ricky Gervais Show animated series airs.
• 19th April Stephen Merchant voice acts as Wheatley in famous video game Portal 2, later winning him multiple awards.
• 10th November Life's Too Short debuts on BBC Two and HBO.

2012

• 12th April Derek debuts on Channel 4.
• 20th April Third series of The Ricky Gervais Show animated series airs.
• 20th September Karl's fifth book titled The Further Adventures of An Idiot Abroad is published.

2013

• 30th March Life's Too Short special airs.
• 29th September Hello Ladies debuts on HBO.
• 10th October Karl's sixth book titled The Moaning of Life: The Worldly Wisdom of Karl Pilkington is published.
• 20th October The Moaning of Life debuts on Sky One.

2014

• 23rd April The second series of Derek airs.
• 22nd December Derek Christmas special airs.

2015

• 13th October The second series of The Moaning of Life airs.

2016

• 2nd June Karl's seventh book titled More Moaning: The Enlightened One Returns is published.
• 19th August David Brent: Life on the Road Written and directed by (and starring) Ricky Gervais is released in the UK.

2018

• 27th September Sick of It debuts on Sky One.

2019

• 14th February 'Fighting with my Family', written and directed by Stephen Merchant and starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is released in the US, then on the 27th in the UK.
• 8th March After Life debuts on Netflix.

2020

• 10th January The second series of Sick of It airs.
• 24th April The second series of After Life airs.

2021

• 25th October The Outlaws co-written and co-directed by (and starring) Stephen Merchant debuts on BBC One and Amazon Prime Video.