Ricky Gervais

Richard Herring interview

Richard Herring talks to Metro about his latest DVD Christ On A Bike, why he'd never want to play the O2 Arena and what he thinks of his Twitter row with Ricky Gervais fans.

Life's Too Short with Helena Bonham-Carter disappointed

Life's Too Short saw Helena Bonham-Carter join Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but the cracks are starting to widen in this underwhelming series.

Although it doesn't quite reach the heights of either The Office or Extras, this new mockumentary series from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant does have its moments. In tonight's third episode, Warwick Davis, the show's star (who, in case you missed the pun, is a famous actor who also happens to be a dwarf) launches his new website, which does rather less well than he was hoping.

Liam Neeson backs Ricky Gervais as Golden Globes host

Liam Neeson is backing controversial Ricky Gervais to shine in his third stint as host of the Golden Globes - despite the storm over his comments last year.

Another view on Life's Too Short

Ricky Gervais's new comedy isn't just in poor taste, it's blatantly offensive, says Kristina Gray.

The clout of Ricky Gervais never ceases to amaze. Not only can he get away with insulting Johnny Depp at the Golden Globes, now he's got him guest starring in his new series.

Depp, who appears as an odious version of himself, is brilliantly appalling as he employs Warwick Davis to coach him for a part where he plays Rumpelstiltskin.

The gag in this series is how everyone thinks it's OK to treat Davis badly as he's small.

Watching Johnny Depp play the recorder while Davis has to ­Riverdance is off the comedy Richter scale. But there's worse at a sci-fi ­convention, where Davis is quizzed by a crass reporter.

Even though these scenes are made up, I bet they're ­exaggerated versions of situations Davis has encountered.

But we could have done without his own tasteless best man speech. This works best when the joke is on everyone else, not him.

Backlash against return for Gervais and his 'insults'

Ricky Gervais is returning as the host of the Golden Globes but 25 per cent of members voted against having him back as host.

This time around, co-writer Ricky Gervais has his 3ft 6in protagonist Warwick Davies involved in an excruciating improv session with Johnny Depp - before turning the humour on to himself. When Depp turns up in Gervais's office, he jokes how the comedian came off Twitter because it had 140 characters... '139 more than he has ever managed to come up with' - a cracking piece of self-reflexive comedy that's all too aware of the ghost of David Brent hanging over it. The formula ain't fresh, but it still raises plenty of bold, daring laughs.