The Ricky Gervais reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais (b. 1961) is a comic writer and performer who grew up in Reading, England. Gervais has recently enjoyed success with his award-winning BBC2 television programme The Office, which he co-wrote with Stephen Merchant. As well as writing it, Gervais also plays the lead role of David Brent, an office manager who is deluded into thinking he is popular and funny, but is in fact neither.

Gervais' father originates from French Canada, and came to the UK on duty during the Second World War, which is where he met his wife. Raised as the youngest of four brothers, Gervais describes his childhood as "nice" and "normal".

Gervais started his career at London radio station XFM where he is still a DJ on the Saturday afternoon slot. He came to wider attention as an obnoxious persona in a slot which replaced Ali G on the Channel 4 comedy programme The 11 O'Clock Show. He later went on to present his own comedy chat show for Channel 4 called "Meet Ricky Gervais". The show was poorly received.

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