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Ricky Gervais

Kirsty Young's castaway is comedian Ricky Gervais.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is Ricky Gervais. In just twelve episodes, his show The Office changed the face of British television comedy. At its centre was the comic monster, David Brent, a middle-manager being filmed for a mock-documentary who saw the ever-present cameras as his route to popularity and fame. Ricky Gervais's performance was both excruciating and unmissable - one critic called the programme "among the most affecting and invigorating works of fiction since the turn of the century".

As he discusses with Kirsty Young, comedy was the language he grew up with - the youngest of four children, being able to come up with a gag or a smart rejoinder was the linguistic currency of his home. That, he says, is where the 'show-off performer' was born. Now with seven Baftas, two Golden Globes and an Emmy to his name, Ricky Gervais is gratified that his work is recognised and says his aim has always been to bring art into comedy.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Lilywhite by Cat Stevens
Book: A coffee table book of art
Luxury: Vat of novocaine - a non-addictive pain-killer.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Jun 2007 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Bob Dylan

    If You See Her, Say Hello

    • Blood on the Tracks.
    • Columbia.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Yusuf Islam

      Lilywhite

      • Mona Bone Jakon.
      • Island.

  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy in the UK

    • Never Mind the Bollocks, Here鈥檚 the Sex Pistols.
    • Virgin.

  • Neil Young

    After The Gold Rush

    • Decade.
    • Reprise.

  • Radiohead

    Bones

    • The Bends.
    • Parlophone.

  • David Bowie

    Letter To Hermione

    • Space Oddity.
    • EMI.

  • Jimmy Webb

    Galveston

    • Ten Easy Pieces.
    • Guardian.

  • Willie Nelson

    Always on My Mind

    • 麻豆社 Radio 2 Songs of the Century.
    • Global Television.

  • Book Choice

    • A coffee table book of art

  • Luxury Choice

    • Vat of novocaine - a non-addictive pain-killer

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Ricky Gervais

Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Jun 2007 11:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 29 Jun 2007 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

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