Are Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais still friends?

Stephen Merchant stated they are not in touch a great deal these days but clarified they lived separate lives even at their closest and don't have animosity.

Will there be a new season of The Office with Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais?

Stephen Merchant indicated that a revival of The Office is unlikely, as they feel they couldn't compete with its previous success.

Did Stephen Merchant criticize Ricky Gervais's show After Life?

Merchant clarified that a tweet interpreted as a criticism of After Life was a misunderstanding and not directed at Ricky Gervais.

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Stephen Merchant Reveals Status of Ricky Gervais Friendship

8 Jan

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Summary

Merchant and Gervais created The Office, a classic British comedy.
They are not in frequent contact but haven't ruled out future work.
Merchant addressed speculation about a tweet referencing After Life.

Stephen Merchant Reveals Status of Ricky Gervais Friendship

Stephen Merchant has provided insight into his current relationship with Ricky Gervais, his creative partner on the iconic British comedy, The Office. The duo, who met in 1997, collaborated on the series that first aired in 2001. Merchant explained that even when they worked most closely, they maintained quite separate lives, and currently, they are not in extensive contact.

While a revival of The Office is not on the horizon, as Merchant believes they could not surpass its success and chose to pursue different creative paths, he did not entirely close the door on future projects with Gervais. The pair also collaborated on other projects, including The Ricky Gervais Show podcast and the series Extras.

Merchant also addressed a 2020 tweet that caused speculation, which some interpreted as a critical comment on Gervais's show After Life. He explained that this was a misinterpretation and that he had no intention of subtly criticizing his former collaborator, emphasizing that assumptions of animosity are often made when creative partners drift apart.