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14th May - Derek Update & More Idiot Abroad
Good news for fans as Channel 4 have confirmed that they have commissioned a full series of 'Derek'. The pilot aired on C4 last month drawing an audience of 3.2 million, which is their biggest audience for a a sit-com in almost two years. The series will be aired sometime next year, Karl will be preparing his BAFTA speech for best actor as we speak.
Even more good news is that Karl will once again be back on his travels, but this time he'll have a companion in the dimunutive form of 'Life's Too Short' actor Warwick Davis. The show titled 'An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Round' will see the pair follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, taking them from Italy to China. Two 60 minute episodes will air on Sky 1 later this year.
Another piece of belated good news is that the third series of 'The Ricky Gervais Show' is now airing on E4 on Tuesday evenings at 11.30pm. The first episode which aired last week was mainly based around Karl's hilarious Tom Cruise based movie with the working title of 'KP2'.
 13th April - More Derek Please
Ricky's pilot episode of 'Derek' was broadcast last night on Channel 4 here in the UK. Gervais takes the lead role as the aforementioned Derek Noakes, a dim-witted but very sweet care worker in an old people's home. The role of caretaker is played by one Karl Pilkington who basically plays himself, not always an easy thing to do but he does it extremely well. There are obviously moments of slapstick and comedy but this work leans more towards drama and perhaps as in 'The Office' these were the best moments in the piece.
What makes this comedy/drama very relevant and poignant is the obvious love that Derek shows for the people he is looking after in a time when the appalling treatment of old people in care homes and hospitals is frequently headline news.
So far this latest outing has been far more favourably received by critics and fans than "Life's Too Short", so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of Derek in the near future. UK visitors can make up there own mind by checking it out on 4OD.
1st March - Roses for Ricky?
Gervais and Merchant’s latest comedy ‘Life's Too Short’ has been nominated for a coveted Rose d'Or television award in the best sitcom category. The show aired late last year in the UK and is currently showing on HBO in the States. The show received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike but Ricky and Steve will see this nomination as a big thumbs up for their latest work. The winners will be announced on the 10th May at the TV festival in Switzerland.
16th January - Golden Globes 2012
Ricky returned to host the Golden Globes for a third consecutive year last night. Following the controversy of last year Gervais seemed to pull the reigns on his legendary acerbic wit. This year the aim of his harshest jibes was aimed less at Hollywood actors and more towards NBC, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Kim Kardashian. He also heaped praise on shows such as Homeland, Boardwalk Empire and the film Bridesmaids. Check out his opening monologue below before it gets deleted. (Deleted)
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