Ricky Gervais reveals he’s finally retiring The Office ‘star’ David Brent — as show bosses in India prepare to launch version of hit sitcom
RICKY GERVAIS has triggered a week of mourning in Slough after retiring David Brent.
But the spirit of the Wernham Hogg boss will live on, with India being the latest country to create a version of hit sitcom The Office.
Viewers will see a paper company near New Delhi run by hapless Jagdeep Chaddha, who attempts to lead an uninspired workforce. Sound familiar?
Ricky revealed: “I am always excited to see remakes of my work, particularly as I’ve ended the David Brent saga now with Life On The Road.
“When a country with a population of more than a billion has a version I’m hoping for big ratings.”
The film Life On The Road, which was released in 2016, followed Brent as he tried to become a rock star.
Ricky had hinted at the time it would be Brent’s final outing but now he seems to have made it official. For Office superfans, it marks the end of an era.
The Indian series will follow the new Brent’s bid to become a dynamic and fun leader, as well as the romantic tension between junior sales officer Amit Sharma and Pammi the receptionist.
The new series becomes the ninth local version of the iconic format after the original UK production and is the first set in Asia.
The most successful transfer was the US version, with Hollywood star STEVE CARELL taking on the Brent role as Michael Scott.
Brent will be sorely missed.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Em's dress rehearsal
THE end of The Voice blind auditions will come as a relief to EMMA WILLIS – she can finally wear some eye-catching dresses.
The ITV show’s host has been seen on screen in the same outfit for the past five weeks, as the auditions were all pre-recorded over a few days.
This Saturday sees the start of the battle rounds.
And the coaches, OLLY MURS, SIR TOM JONES, JENNIFER HUDSON and WILL.I.AM, have already signed up some big names as mentors with KYLIE MINOGUE and LEONA LEWIS ready to lend a helping hand.
Hope somebody has turned off the power to those spinning chairs.
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WHAT? Working With Weinstein, 10pm, C4.
WHY? The film mogul’s fall from grace is captured in a new documentary told through first-hand accounts from the women who worked with HARVEY WEINSTEIN in the UK.
Sir David bags dynasty role
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH has landed a part in Dynasty.
But fans needn’t fret – it’s the name of his new wildlife series, not the glitzy US soap.
The legendary broadcaster’s latest Sunday night BBC1 outing will focus on lions, hunting dogs, chimpanzees, tigers and emperor penguins. The five-episode series is a follow- up to last year’s hit marine-life documentary Blue Planet II.
It comes after Blue Planet II’s opening episode in October was named the most seen TV moment of last year, clocking in 14million viewers.
And viewers will also be glad to hear Sir David isn’t planning to retire at any point. He said: “If I thought I was turning in substandard work, that would stop me.”
There’s no chance of that happening.
Bizbit
TOP Gear host MATT LE BLANC likes his food.
He said: “People often comment that the food in the States is much better than the food in the UK.
However, they get a lot more work done in the UK . . . because no one sits around eating all day.”
It's hard going for Sid
SID OWEN’s gruelling health regime on new ITV show 100 Years Younger In 21 Days proved a bit hard on him.
The ex-EastEnder – who appears on the show with seven other celebs including HAPPY MONDAYS frontman SHAUN RYDER, JUNE BROWN, SHERRIE HEWSON and ROY WALKER – consulted doctors on set, worried about his constant erection.
In an exclusive interview, he said: “In Sardinia it was like, ‘OK, we’ve got doctors, we can ask them anything.’
“Shaun asked me how I’d slept and I went, ‘I keep waking up with a b*ner!’
“Every night at 4am. I couldn’t get back to sleep.
“Shaun just laughed and said, ‘F***ing hell mate, you’re alright then!’ I still spoke to the doctor about it, but he went, ‘You’re fine, you’re fine’.”
The stars try anti-ageing treatments including snail facials, coffee enemas and goat’s milk baths on the series, which starts next Tuesday.
REALITY RUGBY?
CHLOE MADELEY and her rugby beau JAMES HASKELL have been inundated with offers of their own reality show but keep batting them off.
The fitness fanatic, who appears on Ex On The Beach: Body SOS on MTV tomorrow, said: “Lots of production companies have approached us.
But I think that James is very focused on his rugby, and I’m very focused on building my fitness line, so the timing just isn’t right.
Hopefully one day we’ll do something together.”
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Soapbox
IN EASTENDERS, Martin decides he wants to divorce Stacey as he realises they have reached the point of no return.
They put their differences aside by taking the kids to see children’s entertainer Magic Marv at the community centre.
Tensions soon flare again when Stacey invites Kush to join them, telling Martin that she’ll be involving Arthur’s dad more often now.
Vincent discovers the sale of The Albert has fallen through.
On EMMERDALE Tracy is tempted to steal from Frank as her money woes hit a new low.
Frank asks David to look after some cash he’s set aside for a present for Megan.
Tracy clocks where David puts the rest of Frank’s notes and decides to swipe it to solve her problems. But later she is racked with regret and frets over whether to return it.