British Comedy Guide
Derek. Image shows from L to R: Dougie (Karl Pilkington), Derek (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: Derek Productions
Derek

Derek

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2012 - 2014
  • 14 episodes (2 series)

Bittersweet comedy drama written by and starring Ricky Gervais as a worker in a retirement home. Also features Kerry Godliman, David Earl, Holli Dempsey, Brett Goldstein, Karl Pilkington and more.

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Series 1, Episode 6

Hannah receives a phone call from a man claiming to be Derek's estranged father. She informs Derek and asks him whether he would like to arrange a meeting, however Derek doesn't want to know.

Preview clips

Further details

Derek. Image shows from L to R: Kev (David Earl), Derek (Ricky Gervais), Dougie (Karl Pilkington). Copyright: Derek Productions

Did you ever think a baby monkey could ride on the back of a small pig, backwards? Well Derek, who loves anything to do with animals, has just discovered a YouTube video which demonstrates that a baby monkey can in-fact ride on the back of a pig and he is very excited by this.

Later that day, Hannah receives a phone call from a man claiming to be Derek's estranged father. She informs Derek and asks him whether he would like to arrange a meeting, however Derek doesn't want to know. His father was an alcoholic and abandoned him when he was very young. After his father had gone, Derek and his mother never spoke about him because it upset her too much. Even now Derek still finds it difficult to talk about and states he does not want to meet him.

Lizzie's husband Gerald always makes the effort to visit every day. Lizzie's health is deteriorating. She has Alzheimer's so often struggles to remember who Gerald is. He recalls how they met all those years ago and that it was love at first sight and how lucky they have been. Sadly, Lizzie dies.

Derek says that he's been lucky because despite the fact he hasn't had a father figure, he feels as though he's had lots of mums with all the residents at the home. Unfortunately for Derek, this has also meant it's felt like losing a mum when someone dies. At Lizzie's funeral, Derek's dad turns up unannounced but when Hannah tells Derek he refuses to see him.

The event of Lizzie's death has led Hannah, Derek, Dougie and Kev to take some time to reflect on their own lives and what they have learned. They talk to the camera about their beliefs and their thoughts on praying and the meaning of life. Typically Kev says he mainly prays for muff.

Derek's father is persistent and finally manages to catch Derek outside the church but when Derek realises who he is he has no interest in what he has to say.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 6th March 2013
Time
10pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Ricky Gervais Derek
Kerry Godliman Hannah
David Earl Kev
Karl Pilkington Dougie
Tony Rohr Anthony
Kay Noone Lizzie
Tim Barlow Jack
Arthur Nightingale Arthur
Sheila Collings Sheila
Margaret Towner Edna
Prem Modgil Prem
Barry Martin Joe
Blanche Williams Precious
Ninette Finch Annie
Ruth Bratt Mary
Guest cast
Robert Vahey Gerald (Lizzie's Husband)
Writing team
Ricky Gervais Writer
Production team
Ricky Gervais Director
Charlie Hanson Producer
Ricky Gervais Executive Producer
Richard Halladay (as Richard Halladey) Editor
Graham Barker Editor
Anna Higginson Production Designer

Videos

Baby Monkey riding on a pig

Derek has found a great online video clip.

Featuring: Ricky Gervais (Derek).

Snail

Derek has a snail.

Featuring: David Earl (Kev), Ricky Gervais (Derek) & Kerry Godliman (Hannah).

Burial

Derek and Dougie are at a funeral.

Featuring: Ricky Gervais (Derek) & Karl Pilkington (Dougie).

Slap

Dougie has some more wise words.

Featuring: Karl Pilkington (Dougie).

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