Extras

After The Office, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant could have made anything. They chose a sitcom about the people at the very back of the frame. Extras ran on BBC Two from 2005 to 2007, co-produced with HBO, in two series of six episodes and a feature-length Christmas special. The two wrote and directed every episode, and Merchant also took a supporting role.

Gervais plays Andy Millman, who has given up his day job to work as a film extra and believes a speaking part would change everything. Ashley Jensen is Maggie, his loyal friend on set, whose kindness keeps landing her in trouble. Merchant plays Darren Lamb, his spectacularly useless agent. The show's best-known device is its guest list. Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Daniel Radcliffe and David Bowie each play a warped version of themselves, and most of them come off badly. The comedy is quieter and sadder than The Office, with long silences, awkward small talk and Cat Stevens over the closing credits.

Gervais won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2007 and a BAFTA for his performance the same year, and the series took the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy in 2008. Few British comedies have looked at fame, and at the people standing just outside it, with such a cold eye.