Ricky Gervais 'sensationally snubs The Office reunion to host his own'
Ricky Gervais has reportedly snubbed The Office reunion special to host his own, in a huge blow for BBC bosses.
It was announced last week that Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook would be reuniting for the first time in 15 years to celebrate the comedy's 25th anniversary.
Sources are now claiming that Ricky has chosen to host his own rival celebration, which will be released on YouTube.
The funnyman has pivoted to focus his work on streamers and rival networks in recent years, having come under fire for his controversial comedy style.
A source said: 'The BBC making a documentary about The Office without getting Ricky onboard is a huge blow as it spoils their celebration somewhat.
'It just sums up his lack of allegiance towards the Beeb which has been drifting for some time now.'
Ricky Gervais has reportedly snubbed The Office reunion special to host his own, in a huge blow for BBC bosses
Ricky previously announced his own special celebration for The Office on his YouTube channel, sharing that he will incorporate his latest comedy creation Alley Cats, an animated series set for release on Netflix.
The star's representatives told The Sun that Ricky 'wasn't available' to take part in the BBC's reunion, but he remains in contact with the channel 'all the time about The Office'.
Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the BBC and Ricky Gervais for comment.
Originally airing for only two seasons between 2001 and 2003, the mockumentary was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and follows life in the offices of Slough paper merchant Wernham-Hogg.
The series has gone down in comedy history, creating the innovative mockumentary style which has influenced an entire generation of comedy.
Martin and Mackenzie will come face to face for the first time in 15 years to share their memories of the show.
The BBC have revealed the pair will be 'sharing their memories of working, and laughing, alongside Ricky Gervais, co-writer Stephen Merchant, and their other leading office colleague Lucy Davis, who played the object of Tim's affections, Dawn.'
Meanwhile, Ricky is planning what could be his most controversial stand-up tour yet, and he is set to make gags about a raft of shocking taboo topics, including Jimmy Savile, suicide, and Hitler.
Gervais tested the new material at a special gig in London on Monday night.
It was announced last week that Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook would be reuniting for the first time in 15 years to celebrate the comedy's 25th anniversary
But sources are now claiming that Ricky has chosen to host his own rival celebration, which will be released on YouTube
Joking about Savile's depraved acts, Gervais told the crowd at Leicester Square Theatre: 'He raped disabled children in comas. Then he died, and then we found out. People are angry, saying, ''He didn't see justice. He had a great life, and he got away with it''. Did he, though? Is that a great life?
'If someone said to me, ''Just f*** these disabled kids,'' I'd go ''Eugh''. So, in a way, I'm worse than him because at least he gave them a chance.'
He added, ‘That is the worst thing I have ever said. That is the worst thing I’ve ever said.’
Moving on to joke that Hitler did some good things before the Holocaust, Gervais said: ‘I’m not defending him, but he did do some good stuff. Adolf’s early work… he sorted out the transport system, he invented the people car.’
As the crowd went quiet, he added: ‘All I’m saying is, whatever you think of this joke, remember I wrote The Office.’
Moving on to say how he could convince internet trolls to kill themselves, Gervais continued: ‘I look at their profiles, and I think, “I could probably get them to commit suicide because they’re going to do it soon anyway, let me be a part of it, you little f***ing freak. Kill yourself, you little c***. I never would do that, but I’m thinking it.”’
He added that he would ask friends to help him die if he were paralysed, and joked he wishes he had a gun in his home for when he’s old.
Gervais previously insisted he will never be cancelled, and free speech is 'the most important human right there is'.
He said: 'It has been weird for the last ten years as a comedian, going "will that get me cancelled? Can I say that? Is that okay now? Oh God, things are changing, that thing I said a year ago will that be?"
'And now we are coming out of that because I think they pushed too hard, and now people are over it. They complained about things that didn't deserve being complained about.'
Gervais added: 'Free speech is the most important human right there is, and it is the right for which all other rights come. Without free speech, you can't have human rights, and people shut you up because they don't like what you are saying, and that is always suspicious.'
The comedian will tour Ricky Gervais: Legend from September 2026 until the end of 2027.
Earlier this year Merchant insisted he and Gervais would never revive the comedy, which has been adapted in 13 countries, but did not rule out working together again.
He told The Times: 'After we ended The Office, Ricky and I realised that we couldn't compete with it and so we had to do something completely different. Would we work together again? Well, never say never, but we wouldn't revive The Office.'
On their relationship at the time and now, Merchant, who had a fleeting cameo in the show as The Oggmonster, detailed: 'We're not in touch a great deal these days but even at our closest we were living quite separate lives...
'Ricky used to joke that he was 13 or 14 years older than me, just as I was discovering my favourite nightclub, he was discovering his favourite comfortable chair.'
Mackenzie Crook and Martin Freeman Remember...The Office will be broadcast on Wednesday July 8 at 10pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
