Ricky Gervais (The Invention of Lying, Extras, Ghost Town) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Office by revisiting some of David Brent’s most memorable moments. According to Deadline, Gervais will count down his 25 favorite scenes featuring the iconic character in a new retrospective series on his official YouTube channel.
The retrospective will feature behind-the-scenes stories, never-before-told anecdotes, and the inspiration behind some of David Brent’s most recognizable lines. Gervais will also discuss scenes that nearly had to be abandoned after cast members broke into laughter during filming.
Originally premiering on the BBC in 2001, The Office starred Gervais as David Brent, the awkward and often inappropriate manager of the Wernham Hogg paper company. The mockumentary comedy also starred Martin Freeman (Black Panther, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The World’s End), Mackenzie Crook (The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Detectorists), Lucy Davis (Wonder Woman, Shaun of the Dead, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties), Ralph Ineson (The Witch, The Green Knight, The Creator), and Patrick Baladi (The International, Now Is Good, Rush).
The series became one of the most influential workplace comedies of its era and helped launch one of television’s most successful comedy franchises.
The original British series later inspired numerous international adaptations, including the long-running U.S. version starring Steve Carell (The Big Short, The Four Seasons, Rooster), John Krasinski (Jack Ryan, A Quiet Place, Fountain of Youth), Rainn Wilson (Cooties, Super, My Super Ex-Girlfriend), and Jenna Fischer (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Giant Mechanical Man, Mean Girls).
In addition to the David Brent retrospective, Gervais’ YouTube channel also features archive material from After Life and his stand-up specials, along with weekly livestreams where he answers fan questions covering topics ranging from comedy and creativity to artificial intelligence and veganism.
The David Brent retrospective premieres July 8 on Gervais’ YouTube channel.