‘The Office was quite easy to write’: Ricky Gervais admits After Life was his hardest creation as he struggled with the ‘situation’ element of the sitcom
Ricky Gervais has discussed the difficulties he faced in writing his hit Netflix show After Life amid the roaring success of its second series.
Speaking to Radio Times, the funnyman, 58, admitted that following his iconic comedies The Office and Extras, he struggled most to bring After Life to life due to the complexities of the story, which follows a widower’s grief.
Since its release last week, After Life fans have been gushing over the second season, which continues to follow the story of grieving Tony – played by Ricky – as he begins to have his spirits lifted by his adoring support network.
Hard work: Ricky Gervais has discussed the difficulties he faced in writing his hit Netflix show After Life amid the roaring success of its second series
While Tony is still seen yearning for his late wife Lisa, he begins to perk up and vows to help his loved ones to improve their lives.
As well as Ricky, the cast includes Penelope Wilton, Ashley Jensen, Bill Ward, Tom Basden, Joe Wilkinson, Kerry Godliman, Roisin Conaty and Diane Morgan.
Since its release last week, the programme has won huge praise and Ricky has now revealed further details of the behind-the-scenes side of things.
After soaring to fame with mockumentary The Office in 2001, which Ricky wrote and starred as hapless and fame-hungry David Brent, he went on to enjoy huge success with celebrity cameo-laden Extras in 2005.
Way back when: Ricky soared to fame with mockumentary The Office in 2001, in which he wrote and starred as hapless and fame-hungry David Brent(pictured in 2016 movie David Brent: Life On The Road)
Ricky admits that he struggled most with After Life, as he said: ‘The ‘situation’ bit of it is vast. With The Office, it was a group of people in a place…
‘I’d worked in an office for 10 years, I know [that]… and almost the funny thing about The Office was that nothing happens, so that was quite easy…
‘And also Brent was such a strong central character, it was a man who was desperately wanting to be famous and discovered, so once you know that, it’s clear.
‘Extras was hard, because the ambition was bigger. But again, it’s easy to explore the narcism and ego of actors and actresses… So I’d say After Life [is the hardest].’
Here it is: Six new episodes of After Life are now available – and continue the story of Tony, a writer for the local newspaper whose life is upended after his wife dies from cancer
Six new episodes of the show are now available – and continue the story of Tony, a writer for the local newspaper whose life is upended after his wife dies from cancer.
The show is set in the small fictitious town of Tambury and continues to explore Tony’s struggle with immense grief for his wife. The plot sees Tony try to become a better friend to those around him – who are each grappling with their own problems.
Things intensify when the threat of the local newspaper being shut down rears – sending everyone into a panic at the prospect of unemployment. The characters turn to Am-Dram as a way to lift spirits – with undoubtedly hilarious results.
Heartache: Six new episodes of the show are now available – and continue the story of Tony, a writer for the local newspaper whose life is upended after his wife dies from cancer