For the love of pod

Gervais plans free internet show

Ricky Gervais is planning to offer a free half-hour comedy show over the internet.

He has asked subscribers to his website whether they would download a regular podcast, which would like his XFM radio show in London but without the music.

And because it would be transmitted over the web, it would not be subject to the censors.

So far 90 per cent of his fans have said they would subscribe.

Gervais said: ‘A wrong word now could see the station fined, but a podcast would give us free rein. It's a step forward in broadcasting, protecting creativity without adverts, ratings or radio authority.’

The shows would also feature his Office and Extras co-writer Stephen Merchant and his usual radio sidekick Karl Pilkington.

The email to rickygervais.com users said: We'd really like to know whether people are into this sort of thing before going ahead.  There'll be a new show each week - about a half-hour in length and you'll be able to download them for free.’

Gervais’s shows return to XFM – which also puts extracts online here - at Christmas.

 

 

Published: 9 Sep 2005

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