Gervais to interview comedy greats

Ricky Gervais is to interview more of his comedy heroes for Channel 4.

The four new programmes follow the success of a one-off special in January, when Gervais talked to Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David.

Names already confirmed to appear in the new series of  Ricky Gervais Meets... include Garry Shandling from The Larry Sanders Show and Christopher Guest of Spinal Tap Gervais is to appear in Guest’s next film, For Your Consideration.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'In these wide-ranging conversations, Ricky and his contemporaries compare notes on their influences, their different paths to comedy stardom and the approaches they bring to creating intelligent, durable and mould-breaking comedy.'

Gervais added: 'Garry Shandling is one of the most influential comedians of the last 25 years. He granted me a very rare interview. So why the fuck did I tell him he looks like Bingo from The Banana Splits?'

The hour-long shows, made by independent production house Objective, will will be screened in June.

Securing the talents of Gervais – who usually works on BBC Two – will be seen as a coup for Channel 4.

Published: 27 Apr 2006