Gervais plans his next career move

Ricky Gervais is working on a secret new series for the BBC.

He and writing partner Stephen Merchant have decided to stay with the Beeb, despite a host of other offers from the likes of Channel 4.

A source told The Mirror: "Ricky and Stephen have started working on a new show. At the moment they are still developing the characters.

"But, after the success of The Office, everyone here is hugely excited."

Gervais told ITV1's This Morning: "We are going to do something else with them, I'm sure.

"We've got a big backlog of ideas but we don't know yet what it's going to be. It's not going to be anything to do with a documentary about an office in Slough"

David Brent will leave screens at Christmas, with a two-part finale, and Gervais has vowed that he will not revive the show.

He said: "I don't compete with myself. If The Office is the best thing I ever do then so be it.

"I am very excited by the Christmas specials. I want to see if we've got it right or are completely out of touch."

Meanwhile, Gervais and Merchant are acting as executive producers on a pilot edition of The Office, remade for the American market.

King Of The Hill creator Greg Daniels is writing the script, but no casting decisions have yet been announced.

Published: 18 Nov 2003