3 weeks ago
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Ricky Gervais' upcoming sitcom series next year could be his last as he wants to focus more on stand-up.
The actor and comedian, 64, who is behind hits The Office, Extras, Derek and After Life, is releasing an animated series called Alley Cats, on Netflix in 2026.
However, Ricky thinks he is unlikely to make another TV show after Alley Cats because the success of his latest tour, Mortality - which has just bagged the star a Golden Globe nomination and globally drops on Netflix on December 30 - has motivated him to write more stand-up material.
He told the JaackMaate's Happy Hour podcast, host Jack Dean, 32: 'I don't know. I'm really loving stand-up at the moment.
'When I first started, I thought of myself as a writer, director and actor, in stuff I'd written and directed, and you'd do the odd film, funny project, podcast, and then I tried stand-up, and I did stand-up tours between series.
Ricky Gervais' upcoming sitcom series could be his last as he wants to focus more on stand-up
The actor and comedian, 64, who is behind hits The Office, Extras, Derek and After Life, is releasing an animated series called Alley Cats, on Netflix in 2026; pictured in The Office
'And the last few years, maybe the last six, seven, eight years, it's switched around. I feel that stand-up is my job.
'I feel that I've always got to be doing stand-up. Like when I finish a project, I'd think of doing something else, and it will take three years – Alley Cats will be, I think, three or four years after After Life ended.
'But I've just finished the tour, and I've put in New Material Nights in January. So once I've finished that, I put that on Netflix, and I'm starting again. I feel now that I'm a touring Netflix stand-up, and I wonder what I'll do in the daytime.'
Ricky said he will only agree to do a project if it sounds 'amazing'.
After the host asked what keeps him motivated to do stand-up, Ricky explained: 'It gets harder even stand-up.
'If I do three gigs in a row now at my age, I wake up, and I think, "Was I run over last night?" I thought, "Jesus Christ. I've got to do another gig tonight".
'It gets sort of harder, and I don't know if there's an adrenaline dump that I don't notice at the time, or it might just be I'm 64.
'When I was a kid, the thought of being 64 was, "Do you live that long?" I know it's different now. I mean, I should be retiring anyway soon. And I don't think about retiring, but I just think it takes a little bit more.
However, Ricky thinks he is unlikely to make another TV show after Alley Cats because the success of his latest tour, Mortality has motivated him to write more stand-up material
'I don't know. I'm really loving stand-up at the moment. I thought of myself as a writer, director and actor but the last few years it's switched around. I feel that stand-up is my job', he said
'Also, it's the £10,000 for the chickens. I think, "I don't need to do it. I don't need £10,000 to have a chicken". So something's got to be amazing for me to do it.'
Ricky had huge success in the earlier 2000 creating and starring in The Office.
More recently, he had massive global success with After Life on Netflix, which became the most-watched British comedy in the world, praised for its balance of dark humor and emotional depth regarding grief.
It comes after Ricky donated £2.5million to animal charities from the proceeds of his popular Mortality world tour.
The comedian divided the generous pre-Christmas donation between 22 charities - with some receiving up to £150,000 - beating his previous record of £1.9million to 11 organisations two years ago.
Announcing the gift, Ricky posted on X: 'To celebrate my Mortality Tour, my Netflix Special, my Golden Globes nomination & The Spirit of Christmas, I am donating £2.43 Million to Animals.
'These are the lovely charities I've chosen. Merry Xmas Critters.'
He then revealed the lengthy list of organisations he was donating the money to, including The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), International Animal Rescue, Celia Hammond Animal Trust and Animals Asia, which will all be receiving £150k.
Nowzad, which provides animal welfare services in Afghanistan and Ukraine, will be handed £132k.
The Office star also made donations to a further 17 charities, which will all receive £100k.
Ricky had huge success in the earlier 2000 with The Office and more recently with After Life on Netflix, which became the most-watched British comedy in the world
Ricky has long been a keen supporter of animal charities, donating a hefty £1.9million to various bodies following his successful Armageddon tour in 2023.
On that occasion, he divided the funds between 11 organisations but has cast his net even wider in the wake of Mortality's lucrative run.
The After Life writer and actor said: 'My mum always used to say "You can't take it with you." No I can't mum. But I could've bought 30 speedboats and raced 'em round the Med with my mates, off our heads on weed and Bollinger. Anyway. Too late now.'
The Netflix version of the comedy tour, which took Mr Gervais to the Hollywood Bowl and New York City, will stream globally from December 30.
English (US)