Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant were once one of the biggest comedy duos in entertainment. They burst onto the scene with the groundbreaking sitcom The Office in 2001, which they co-created and directed with Gervais taking the lead role. Neither men were well known at the time, however, they soon became overnight sensations.
After the success of The Office, the pair went on to Extras, which they again co-wrote and directed together. This time, Merchant took a supporting role in the show and proved himself as a talented actor as well as writer/director. From here, the dynamic duo worked together on a number of projects, including the popular travel series An Idiot Abroad, the trailblazing podcast The Ricky Gervais Show, and the feature film Cemetery Junction. However, in recent years, they have gone their separate ways, causing speculation that there is a rift between them. So, let’s explore just why Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant don’t work together anymore.
Is There a Feud Between the Iconic Duo?
Following the massive success of The Office, which became the first British TV series to ever win a Golden Globe, Gervais and Merchant kept the ball rolling and moved on to Extras. This show further pushed them into the mainstream spotlight as they wrangled together a plethora of Hollywood stars to feature in the show, including the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Kate Winslet, and Orlando Bloom. During this time, the duo created a formula for their work which consisted of two seasons and a special.
As they were climbing to fame, Gervais quickly became the superstar of the two, landing roles in big Hollywood movies like Night at the Museum and Ghost Town. Simultaneously, Gervais embarked on a journey into stand up comedy, selling out arenas worldwide. In the meantime, Gervais and Merchant were also becoming pioneers in the podcast world with their XFM show, The Ricky Gervais Show. This is where they introduced the world to Karl Pilkington, a radio producer whose wild thoughts and unique outlook on life intrigued the two of them so much that they invited him on air and he became the star of the show. Here, the dynamic duo turned into a trio and the TV travel series An Idiot Abroad was birthed. Now, Gervais and Merchant had tackled every aspect of TV together and seemed unstoppable. However, Merchant wasn’t present as a host on the third series of An Idiot Abroad and went over to LA to write, direct and star in his own show, Hello Ladies.
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant last worked together on the TV series Life’s Too Short. The show broke their typical formula and only ran for one season and one 1-hour special (which aired in 2014). Since then, the two have never worked together again. This has caused many to speculate that there is some kind of a rift between the two. However, neither men have confirmed this. Both men feature on podcasts and talk shows rather frequently, and Merchant is never shy to talk about his days with Gervais. Yet, on the other hand, Gervais never speaks about Merchant or Karl Pilkington. Fuel was added to the fire that a falling out had occurred when Merchant seemingly took a savage swipe at Gervais on Twitter (now X). When asked the question: “What’s your least favourite bit of movie shorthand?” Merchant replied: “Watching old home movies of dead child/wife = inability to move on.”, which just so happened to be the main theme in Gervais’ hit Netflix show After Life.
What Have They Been Up To Since Parting Ways?
Although Ricky Gervais forayed into stand up comedy after becoming famous, Stephen Merchant had already put in the work before finding fame. As Gervais kept climbing in the world of stand up, Merchant also returned to the art form as well. During his show Hello Ladies, he made a quip about Gervais stating that he did the show so he didn’t have to share the money with “you know who”.
Outside of stand up comedy, both stars have been working on their own projects. Gervais struck up a deal with Netflix and released Derek, After Life, and his stand up specials on the platform. Merchant started to take on roles in Hollywood movies like Hall Pass, Logan, and Jojo Rabbit. Whereas Gervais stayed rooted to England, turning down roles in movies like the Mission: Impossible franchise.
After rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars, Merchant also returned to his roots with his TV series, The Outlaws. The comedy thriller was shot on location in his home town of Bristol and was broadcast on the BBC. The show has ran for three seasons and has found success across the pond too, where it is available to stream on Prime Video. Although the two have now parted ways for over a decade, there are similarities in their works, with both stars starting to tackle more poignant themes, delving much more into drama.
Will Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant Ever Work Together Again?
Many have given up hope that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will ever work together again, particularly with Gervais showing no desire to even talk about the matter. What’s more, Karl Pilkington has often been asked if the trio will ever get back together. But he too has gone off on his own, writing and starring in the TV series Sick of It. However, Merchant has offered a glimmer of hope that the notion is not completely unfathomable.
When speaking with Newsweek in 2022, Merchant was prodded about working Gervais again. He said: “I owe my career to Ricky really. I have nothing but admiration for him and I think we could do something really interesting together.” He then added: “I think there are areas that I have an interest that are not the same for Ricky, so I’m pleased I’ve been able explore other avenues. But that’s not to say that if the idea came along, it wouldn’t be fun to do something again.” Want to read more about Ricky Gervais? Here are 5 things we love about the actor and comedian.
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