Ricky records with Noel Gallagher

Ricky Gervais has recorded a version of a song he wrote for The Office with Oasis star Noel Gallagher.

Free Love Freeway was written for his character David Brent to perform as he boasted to staff about his musical past.

But now Gallagher has helped him record a proper version, which will appear on The Office's Christmas Special DVD when it is released next month.

Gervais's spokeswoman told Teletext: "The idea came about after Noel watched Ricky's recent stand-up show Politics. It's just a bit of fun."

The video shows the pair fooling around in the recording studio, with Noel on backing vocals.

Gervais unveiled the clip at a talk with Office co-writer Stephen Merchant in London last night.

And he revealed that he turned down the chance to play Tony Hancock following the success of The Office.

He said: "I've been offered about seven major roles but I've turned them all down apart from The Simpsons

"I was asked to play Tony Hancock in a film but I decided I couldn't live up to him. I still get embarrassed about acting when it's serious."

Gervais is currently working on new BBC comedy Extras.

* From Teletext, p141 ITV1, p301 C4 and p385 Five.

>> To pre-order The Office Christmas Special DVD, at an £8 discount

Published: 17 Jul 2004