Stephen Merchant says comedy is being ‘policed by the Left’
‘It’s allowed the Right to become the arbiters of free speech’ Stephen Merchant has claimed that “the Left” is “policing” comedy because of “sensitivities that seem out of proportion to the joke.” Merchant, who is best known for his work with Ricky Gervais on The Office and Extras, said that comedians were having to be […]
1 year ago
Ricky Gervais: I have to offend even if people don’t like it
‘Some people won’t like it but that’s no reason not to do it’ One of Ricky Gervais’ most famous gags climaxes with the comedian telling a little boy that peadophiles won’t be interested in him because he’s a “tubby ginger c*nt.” It’s classic Gervais. He’s made an estimated £140 million by saying things almost no one […]
4 years ago
Stephen Merchant: I started acting because Ricky Gervais was getting all the free stuff
“I had seen how much free stuff Ricky got sent, and that was another reason to put myself in the show” Writer, director and actor Stephen Merchant is one of the UK’s most recognisable comedy stars – and not just because he’s 6ft 6 tall. After co-creating The Office with Ricky Gervais, he took a larger on-screen role […]
6 years ago
First trailer for Taika Waititi’s new movie displays all the mad genius we’ve come to expect from him
From visionistical director, Taika Waititi New Zealand comedy auteur Taika Waititi first came to international attention with delightful and wonderful comedies set in his homeland like What We Do In The Shadows and Hunt For The Wilderpeople. Then, he was given a big Marvel movie and somehow managed to turn the previously-meh Thor franchise into a day-glo rock opera masterpiece. Next […]
7 years ago
Nick Frost and Stephen Merchant do battle on WWE video games
“You’ve heard of Hamlet – what about the Slam-Let?” We got the stars of the new wrestling comedy Fighting With my Family into JOE to take on each other at WWE 2K19. Produced by Dwayne Johnson, the movie tells the true-life story of WWE Superstar Paige, who went from her family’s wrestling school in Norwich to the […]
7 years ago
Stephen Merchant to play real-life serial killer Stephen Port in new drama
Stephen Port killed four men between 2014 and 2015 Stephen Merchant had his place in British comedy history assured when he created The Office with Ricky Gervais. He then, of course, went on to take a larger on-screen role in the duo’s next collaboration, Extras, and appear alongside Gervais and Karl Pilkington in An Idiot Abroad and its assorted […]
7 years ago