Here are ten David Brents from around the world as India makes its own version of The Office
After the Sun's Bizarre column revealed India would be making its version of The Office we showcase the ten countries that have adopted the pompous boss of Wernham Hogg
TODAY the Sun’s Bizarre column revealed The Office would be made in India becoming the 11th country to do a version of the British hit comedy.
Germany, Canada and Chile are all amongst the spin-offs based on Ricky Gervais’ creation which ran on the BBC from 2001 to 2003 with the American Office starring Steve Carell the most famous.
The first to do their take on David Brent was only across the Channel in France.
Le Bureau, set in Villepinte, a business park to the north of Paris, saw Francois Berleand play pompous manager Gilles Triquet when it ran for one season in 2006.
Germany’s Stromberg hit audiences in 2004 but was not an official version of the show and faced legal action from the BBC.
The show, which was made into a feature-length episode, compromised and gave makers Ricky and Stephen Merchant credit with an “inspired by” note.
In 2006, Ricky said: “I must say I was very surprised.
“It’s not like the Germans to just march in and take something that isn’t theirs.”
It would go on until 2012.
Chile was the first country to make a Latin version of the sitcom in 2006 calling it La Ofis.
Star of the Oscar-nominated A Fantastic Woman, Luis Gnecco, played Manuel Cerda who worked at the South American Wernham Hogg, Papeles Lozano.
At the time, Ricky said: “We stopped making The Office in 2003 but the rest of the world didn’t.
“I won’t be happy until I have seen an Inuit doing David Brent’s dance.”
France wasn’t the only country to have a French speaking boss of Wernham Hogg – Canada had a Quebecois version which ran for one series in 2006 under the title La Job.
Antoine Vezina played the lead in the show set in the suburbs of Montreal offices of Les Papiers Jennings.
Czech Republic bringing the Office over to Eastern Europe prompted a funny quote from stand-up Ricky in 2013.
Vaclav Kopta played Marek Chvala in Kancl for one season.
Ricky said: “I’m extremely flattered and excited that there is about to be a new version of The Office.
“Prague was the first place in the world to produce a stage version, so I’m very glad a local adaptation is coming to TV too.
“Cue jokes about Gervais and another fat cheque.”
Going even further east, the show was adopted by Israel in 2010.
HaMisrad was on for two seasons, starred Dvir Benedek as Avi Meshulam as boss of the Yehud branch of a company.
Ricky said: “I am thrilled and amazed that Israel are making The Office with local writers, directors and actors.
“I mean, who ever heard of Jewish entertainers?”
Sweden’s Kontoret made millions of krona for Rick when actor Henrik Dorsin played his part for two seasons in 2012 and 2013.
The most recent international version was Konttori which began airing last year in March in Finland.
Comic Sami Hedberg played Pentti Markkanen, office manager at Leskisen Paperi, set in Riihimaki.
And last but not least is the most successful of the spin-offs was the US version which starred Hollywood funnyman Steve Carell.
He played Michael Scott from 2005 to 2011 with the show continuing for another two years without him.
John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer featured as co-workers Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The series won many accolades including four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Ricky even starred in two episodes including in 2011 episode The Seminar.