Here is the research for my final major project

1. Research
By Harry Docwra

2. Ricky Gervais
• Ricky Dene Gervais was born on June 25th
1961 in Reading, Berkshire, England. In
1980 he enrolled in University College,
London where he planned on studying
biology but switched courses and ended
up leaving with a degree in Philosophy.
While studying at UCL he met his future
wife Jane Fallon.

3. Ricky Gervais
• After university Ricky tried to peruse a career in Sedona Dancing, in a duo with a
fellow student, they were a synth-pop act similar to many duos in the 80s.
Despite the act failing Gervais stayed in the music industry for a while and for
some time was the manager of the rock band “Suede.”
• In the 90’s he made a writing partnership with Stephen Merchant and in 2000
created “The Ricky Gervais Show” which featured many popular guests. In July of
2001 Gervais and Merchants hit show “The Office” aired on BBC Two, and lasted
two short seasons and a Christmas Special. The rights to the show were picked up
by the American Network “NBC” and the show was given a reboot set in the U.S.
Despite not having a role in it Ricky Gervais still helped produce the show. He has
appeared in any films as tv shows and still works to this day.
• I chose him to research because of his work on both producing and starring in the
office.

4. Stephen Merchant
• Stephen James Merchant was born on
the 24th November 1974 in Hanham,
Bristol, England. He studied film and
television at Warwick University, with his
dreams of becoming a film
director/writer/performer. (He also
hosted his own student radio
programme.) He has been dating actress
Micheal Monroe since 2017.

5. Stephen Merchant
• Merchant began his career as a stand up comedian on Bristols Comedy Box where
he started with a successful then unsuccessful fist two weeks. He met Ricky
Gervais in 1997 where he was hired as Rickys assistant, the two later formed a
writing duo. In 2001 Stephen and Ricky launched their hit sitcom “The Office” on
BBC two which Merchant co-wrote, produced and directed alongside Gervais.
When the show was picked up for an American reboot they were both credited as
executive producers.
• Merchant still works in television and stand up comedy. Since the start of his
career he has appeared in films such as “Hot Fuzz”, “I Give It a Year” and “Logan”.
• I thought he would be suitable to research for his work on the office.

6. Graham Linehan
• Graham Linehan is an Irish sitcom writer,
he was born on the 22nd of May 1968.
Linehan studied at Plunketts School for
boys and then attended Catholic
University School in Dublin. In 2004 he
married writer Helen Linehan and they
currently have two children, Wendy and
Henry Linehan.

7. Graham Linehan
• In his early career Linehan was a journalist for Hot Press, an Irish music magazine.
He worked alongside Arthur Matthews on the Alexei Sayle Show. The pair created
the failed sitcom “Paris” in 1994 and then worked on many sketches for the BBC
such as “The Day Today”, “The Fast Show” and “Harry Enfield and Chums”. But it
was “Father Ted” that kickstarted their career, it showed of their true talent and
creativity in their writing. The show ran until 1998 when it came to an abrupt end
when the main star, Dermot Morgan, passed away. In 2006 Linehan returned to
sitcom writing when he wrote the hit Channel 4 series “The IT Crowd” which
lasted until 2013.
• I chose to research Graham Linehan because I admire his work on Father Ted and
The IT Crowd.