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The Sun newspaper article reflecting on poor initial audience reception of 'The Office'

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IT is ten years since bungling boss David Brent and The Office were unleashed
on the unsuspecting British public.

Originally dubbed a "summer stinker" by one critic, the series about the
goings-on at a Slough paper merchant has since become a modern comedy
phenomenon.

There have been spin-offs around the world, a clutch of top awards - and
global superstardom for its co-creator and star Ricky Gervais.

The funnyman has repeatedly declined to reprise his toe-curlingly cringeworthy
character - but he could not resist marking a decade since the show's launch
with a new set of pictures as Brent.

The smug grin, arrogant posturing and cheesy gestures are all still there. The
only thing missing is that famous dance.

Ricky, 50, is still fond of his iconic comedy creation but admits growing
Brent's trademark goatee for these pictures made him instantly recognisable.

He said: "It feels good to be Brent again - although I left the facial hair to
the last minute.

"I get spotted more when I've got it - it's like people need that visual aid
to work out where they know me from.

"None of my characters have been as much fun to play as David Brent. People
say he was a b****** and the 'boss from hell', but he wasn't. He was just a
twit.

"He was a man whose biggest mistake was confusing popularity with respect."

When The Office first aired on BBC2 on July 9 2001, it was panned by several
critics.

The bold, documentary-style filming, complete with agonising pauses following
awkward comments, threw some viewers.

But the audience were soon engrossed by the daft antics of Brent and the
interaction between characters, particularly the blossoming love story
between receptionist Dawn and salesman Tim.

The show exploded. It scooped several Baftas and two Golden Globes, becoming
the first British comedy to win one of the top US awards. There have also
been versions made for audiences in the US, France, Germany and Israel.

Ricky can scarcely believe the show's immense popularity - not least because
it got slated by preview audiences and very nearly didn't get made at all.

He said: "The first series got the lowest BBC focus group score ever, joint
bottom with women's bowls.

"But we didn't change a thing. We knew how good it was, but that doesn't
guarantee success.

"For us 'success' just meant getting our own way and having it turn out
exactly as we wanted.

"It may still be unheard of in British TV to get left alone like we were as
first-time directors.

"But we didn't just pitch a script, we made a pilot. I mean - how do you
describe David Brent in writing? 'A man does a bad joke, touches his tie and
looks at the camera?' Brilliant!"

Once BBC executives had taken a look, Ricky remembers they still had
reservations about the project.

He said: "They called me and co-writer Steve Merchant in for a meeting. I
said, 'We're going to write and direct it, I'm going to play the boss and
there'll be no famous actors in it'.

"After we came out, Steve said, 'Rick, in future can I do the talking at these
things?'

"Steve was terrified he'd end up living in his car after that meeting.

"But it worked because I wasn't bluffing. I was a bit of a critic - I'd
watched telly for 30 years thinking, 'I could do better'.

"Sooner or later you have to put your money where your mouth is."

The gamble paid off and soon British audiences could not get enough of
gaffe-prone Brent and his motley crew of workers.

Ricky said: "If I thought the show had changed comedy, I'd keep that to myself
because it would be arrogant to say so. But we were certainly different.

"I don't think there was anything before that had been quite such a slave to
realism. We threw out jokes. If there were jokes, they were bad
jokes. There were long pauses, awkward silences.

"The Office is basically a room full of Laurels and one Hardy, which is Tim.
Tim's character is pretty common in comedy - that person who thinks they're
better than everyone else, but it doesn't seem to get them anywhere.

"Lisa Simpson, Woody Allen, Bob Hope - they're all Tims.

"Brent isn't based on a specific person, he's based on a few.

"But Gareth - played by Mackenzie Crook - is based on a bloke I went to school
with.

"He once said, 'If you get captured by cannibals, they show you pornographic
pictures so you get an erection and there's more meat'. I used his gems for
Gareth."

The original UK version of The Office has now been viewed in 60 countries
worldwide - but a return for David Brent and his Wernham Hogg workers
remains unlikely.

Ricky, who was speaking to ShortList magazine, has no regrets about wrapping
the show up after two series and a couple of Christmas specials.

He said: "A third series might have been good, but it might not.

"Brent's blind date in the special was about killing him off.

"She made him self-aware and as soon as he has awareness, he's no longer the
character.

"Once he tells Finchy to 'F*** off' and she tells him, 'Be yourself', he's
done. He was stone dead after that."

Ricky remembers one occasion when it dawned on him just how successful the
show had become.

He says: "The most ridiculous moment was just after the first series had
finished.

"A journalist told me her friend, none other than Simpsons creator Matt
Groening, had bought a Region 2 DVD player specifically because he'd seen an
episode of The Office on a plane and it was now his favourite programme.

"I thought, 'Jesus, this is getting crazy now'. I can't say how David Brent
will stand up against the likes of Basil Fawlty and Del Boy in the long run.

"Fawlty has lasted 30-odd years. Del Boy has probably got two, maybe three
times the ratings of Brent. Ten years isn't long enough to judge it really.
Its themes are quite eternal, I think.

"It's about boy meets girl and people asking themselves 'Am I making the best
of my life?'

"I hope people still like The Office in ten years' time."

d.lowe@the-sun.co.uk

1. RICKY GERVAIS (David Brent): Co-wrote, co-directed and starred in
hit comedy Extras and became first Brit to write an episode of The Simpsons.
Also moved into films. Worth £50million.

2. MACKENZIE CROOK (Gareth Keenan): Will shortly be seen in Steven
Spielberg's film The Adventures Of Tintin. Also starred in Pirates Of The
Caribbean movies.

3. JULIE FERNANDEZ (Brenda): Works as a consultant on disabled issues
and sells handmade crafts.

4. RALPH INESON (Chris Finch): Appeared in Harry Potter film and does
continuity for the Dave TV channel.

5. EWEN MACINTOSH (Keith Bishop): Appeared in BBC comedy Miranda and is
the voice of Drench drinks adverts.

6. PATRICK BALADI (Neil Godwin): Busy TV career. Recently in BBC's
Mistresses, Hotel Babylon and Casualty.

7. HOWARD SADDLER (Oliver): Now works at a paintball centre in Surrey.

8. MARTIN FREEMAN (Tim Canterbury): Currently filming The Hobbit in New
Zealand. Played Watson in BBC1's Sherlock.

9. LUCY DAVIS (Dawn Tinsley): Jasper Carrott's daughter tried her luck
in Hollywood - with no great success.

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Early audiences hated the fact there were no jokes in The Office but we wouldn't allow the BBC to change it

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IT is ten years since bungling boss David Brent and The Office were unleashed on the unsuspecting British public. Originally dubbed a "summer stinker" by one critic, the series about the goings-on at a Slough paper merchant has since become a modern comedy phenomenon.

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Clip from 'The Office' in which David Brent's prank on colleague, Dawn, backfires

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David Brent's Prank Backfires | The Office | BBC

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Opening clip of 'The Office', introducing the audience to the main character David Brent

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IMDb online ratings of 'The Office'. Average score 8.5/10

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The Office (TV Series 2001-2003) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more...

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Guardian newspaper article on the cultural significance and impact that 'The Office' had on British youth

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For those of us who were teenagers when Ricky Gervais' sitcom arrived, The Office was more than just a great comedy - David Brent and his colleagues formed the basis for the way we relate to each other

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Fansite for British sitcom 'The Office'

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The Office (UK) Fan Club | Fansite with photos, videos, and more

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Fanpop community fan club for The Office (UK) fans to share, discover content and connect with other fans of The Office (UK). Find The Office (UK) videos, photos, wallpapers, forums, polls, news and more.

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BBC announcement of the format sale of 'The Office' to the Czech Republic

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BBC - BBC Worldwide announces The Office format sale to Czech Republic - Media Centre

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BBC Worldwide has signed a major local production deal with broadcaster Czech Television for a Czech Republic version of The Office. Produced in-house for channel CT1, the six episode series is due to go into production in January 2014.

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Hollywood Reporter review of 'The Office'

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On Jan. 23, 2003, Ricky Gervais' comedy The Office made its way stateside, where it premiered on BBC America. The Hollywood Reporter's original review is below.
Here are your clues: a sitcom without a laugh track, crass behavior, dark and "ghastly" realism and tragic humiliations broken by laugh-out-loud joke lines.

That's right, it's another comedy series from BBC America, this time set in the desperate world of The Office, where life can get pretty much intolerable for the working stiffs. Ah, but we get to laugh at their misery and petty triumphs, and we eagerly anticipate the next wacky line or monologue.

Office has been running in Great Britain and other markets and won the British Comedy Awards in 2001 and 2002, plus a few other honors.

Relieved by wonderfully arch lines and mad behavior, the show is marginally reminiscent of in that it's essentially about nothing. In the first episode, jobs are threatened by cutbacks, but nothing much is made of this dramatically except as a device to point out the phony, falsely hopeful way the boss spins the problem.

The setting is a paper supply company in an industrial town near London. Without a clue as to how to behave or effectively run things, office boss David Brent (co-writer/director Ricky Gervais) is a smug, desperate to-be-liked misfit who tells jokes frequently and badly. David often banters with the receptionist, Dawn (Lucy Davis), and he honestly can't see that his jokes are sexist and offensive.

David is told by a higher-up that there's a good chance jobs will be slashed unless he can prove that his is the most efficient department. Instead of taking action, David fritters away the time, playing class clown with his workers and lying to them about the personnel cuts. The cruel practical jokes include "firing" Dawn and reducing her to tears.

Sarcastic, smart joker Tim (Martin Freeman) is constantly at odds with office creep Gareth (Mackenzie Crook). Wrangling over office equipment, it's discovered that someone (probably Tim) has made Jell-O with Gareth's stapler inside the dessert.

One odd and delightful note in the series is that the actors often break the fourth wall, addressing the camera directly, docu-style. This gives them a chance to ruminate about their lives, their work - and lie through their teeth about their personal ethics.

It's a wonderful, subversive concept, and by failing to romanticize the players, Office remains true to its ghastly, funny self." - Michael R. Farkash, originally published Jan. 23, 2003.

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On Jan. 23, 2003, Ricky Gervais' comedy The Office made its way stateside, where it premiered on BBC America. The Hollywood Reporter's original review is below. Here are your clues: a sitcom without a laugh track, crass behavior, dark and "ghastly" realism and tragic humiliations broken by laugh-out-loud joke lines.

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Interview with show creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

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Ricky's favourite clip

﻿You sent in thousands of questions about The Office and we put a broad selection to the creators - Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Take a glimpse into the minds of the award-winning writing duo as they talk about their inspirations, favourite clips and...Stephen's dad.

Remind yourself of one of the funniest moments in The Office EVER as Ricky Gervais chooses his number one clip, which contains his favourite line from the whole series. Stephen Merchant tries to stop him spoiling the clip by quoting the line....To view more of their favourite clips take a look here where you can find tenth anniversary interviews with Ricky and Stephen and members of the cast...

Question from Paul Morries, West Midlands: Why was the office set in a paper merchants?

Ricky and Steve: We wanted an industry that everyone knows exists but most people know very little about...

Question from Linny Baker, Portsmouth: You say it's finished but what happens if you have loads more good ideas for episodes of The Office?

Ricky and Steve: We promise you we won't have any more good ideas.

Question from Debbie Madders, Southampton: I've heard many rumours that Orlando Bloom has appeared in The Office (most say that he was in Series 1, Episode 5), is this true? And if it is, what scene can we see him in?

Ricky and Steve: As far as we know, he didn't. If he did, he was probably an extra in the Chasers nightclub scene but that seems unlikely.

Question from Adam Wilson, Beverley: Was 'Free Love Freeway' written especially for The Office or was it one of Ricky Gervais' own from "the band days" before he started acting?

Ricky: No, it was written especially for you guys.

Question from Chris, Sydney: Why didn't Tim accept the manager's position when Neil offered it to him?

Ricky and Steve: Because he felt that if he took the job, he would be at Wernham Hogg forever.

Question from Tom Walsh, Adelaide, Australia: Was Brent's dance in 2nd series episode 5 rehearsed, or did you just make it up as you went?

﻿Ricky and Steve: It wasn't rehearsed. I just went berserk for thirty seconds, then had to have a sit down for twenty minutes.

Question from Stephen Civic, London: I loved the ending of the final episode. Was it a difficult decision to give it a basically happy ending - did you have any qualms about it?

Ricky and Steve: For as long as we can remember, we intended the show to have a happy ending but we wanted it to be moving and uplifting without being corny or mawkish. When we were making it we discovered that's much harder than we thought. Glad you think it worked though, thanks.

Question from Lucy Porchester, Manchester: The scripts to the Christmas episodes got sent to some random person who sold them to a newspaper. What was going on there?

Ricky and Steve: Someone at the BBC accidentally sent a script or a schedule or something to the wrong address. The woman who mistakenly received it did what any thoughtful, law-abiding citizen would do and sold it to the Mail On Sunday.

Question from Harry K, Wigan: Does David Brent have a family? He mentioned his Dad once but what about brothers and sisters and mum?

Ricky and Steve: His mum is dead, his dad is in a home and he has a sister.

Question from Eleri Forbes, Bristol: Has David ever had a relationship before? Has he ever been married or been in a long term relationship? Who? When? How many?

﻿Ricky and Steve: He's had a couple of short-lived relationships but never got married.

Question from Greg Innes, Fife, Scotland: Did David Brent join Wernham Hogg as the regional manager or did he start off as the 'tea boy' and work his way up?Question from Greg Innes, Fife, Scotland: Did David Brent join Wernham Hogg as the regional manager or did he start off as the 'tea boy' and work his way up?

Ricky and Steve: He worked his way up.

Question from Peter Pelisek, Windsor, Ont. Canada: Why did David's old band split up? Does he still keep in touch with his old band mates? Did something interesting happen (such as a foul up with women or drugs) or did the group just fade away?

Ricky and Steve: They got fat and old and had to concentrate on their proper jobs.

Question from Billy Bobs, England: How the heck did Dawn ever get with Lee?

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Ricky and Steve: They started going out at 15 and just settled into a comfortable routine. Marriage and kids seemed inevitable.

Question from Ken, Melbourne, Australia: Can you please tell me the Artist and title of the opening song?

Ricky and Steve: It's called 'Handbags and Gladrags'. It was made famous by Rod Stewart, written by Mike D'Abo and recently covered by The Stereophonics. Our version is sung by a guy called Fin.

Question from Rich Bolesworth, Nuneaton: Why does Gareth like David so much?

﻿Ricky and Steve: Initially it was because David is in charge. Gareth respects rank. And he's a creep.

Question from Andrew, Swansea: What do you think Gareth would be like in bed?

Ricky and Steve: Keen.

Question from Mark, Sydney: My question is about the woman on the phone to Gareth in series two who asks him to bring 'the toys'. Is she the same woman that Gareth dances with and shows off his martial arts moves to in series one?

Ricky and Steve: No she's not, it's a different girl. Gareth is surprisingly successful with women, mainly because he has low standards.

Question from Phil Barnard, Griffith NSW Australia: Is the Caretaker that appears every now and then looking blankly at the camera really Stephen Merchant's Dad? Did he ask to be in the show or did you ask him?

Steve: Yes, he is my dad and we put him in because we thought he had a funny face.

Question from Emma Bullimore, Chelmsford: What does Peter Purves think about his cameo appearance in the training episode?

﻿Ricky and Steve: Peter was an absolute professional and a joy to work with.

Question from Alan King, Liverpool: What other comedians or writers or characters influenced the humour of the show?

Ricky and Steve: Laurel and Hardy, This Is Spinal Tap, The Simpsons, The Larry Sanders Show and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads.

Question from Sam Thomas, Cornwall: Were you scared about putting racism into your show?

Ricky and Steve: We don't think any of the characters are really racist. We thought it was interesting to write about the hypocrisy of people who think they're politically correct and the resultant awkwardness when they try too hard.

Question from John Arnold, Farnborough: Did you stick religiously to the scripts or was most of it improvisation and if so, how hard was it to perform?

Ricky and Steve: It was 95% scripted, with some improvisation here and there.

Question from Dave, Aiketgate: Is the set an actual working office or just a set created in a studio?

Ricky and Steve: It's a real office that happens to be part of Teddington Film Studios. For a while it was the production offices of 'Today With Des and Mel'.

Question from Stuart Griffiths, Cardiff: I'd just like to know how hard it was to capture the whole thing in a documentary style?

Ricky and Steve: It's harder than you may think because people are so familiar with the documentary style and so you have to work extra hard to make it seem convincing. It's a fun challenge for the actors though and allows them a lot of freedom.

Question from Midge, Suffolk: What things helped and what got in your way when you were trying to get the show off the ground?

Ricky and Steve: We'd never written or directed anything before, and Ricky was largely unknown, but we'd made a short video showing off David Brent, so the BBC got an idea of what to expect. If we'd had only a script to show people, it may never have happened.

Question from Jonathan Stanley, Banbury: Who made the inspired choice to include 'Halifax Howard' in the Christmas specials? Was he a primadonna?

Ricky and Steve: Howard was an absolute professional and a joy to work with.

Question from Stuart Somerville, Birmingham: What was the record number of takes for one scene?

Ricky and Steve: Seventy four. It was the scene where Brent gives Tim an appraisal. We kept laughing and couldn't get through the dialogue.

Question from Roland Duarte, Dover: What recent comedy shows around (if any) do you think have been especially good?

Ricky and Steve: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Little Britain, Peep Show.

Question from Callum, Harlow: What is your favourite single moment in the office?

Ricky and Steve: We both like the bit where Tim takes his microphone off at the end of series two.﻿

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BBC Two - The Office - An interview with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

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﻿You sent in thousands of questions about The Office and we put a broad selection to the creators - Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Take a glimpse into the minds of the award-winning writing duo as they talk about their inspirations, favourite clips and...Stephen's dad.