Guide Note

Along with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant co-created The Office and Extras. He currently hosts a weekly radio show on BBC 6 Music.

Though only having a cameo appearance on an episode of British version of The Office, he performed a regular role on Extras as incompetent talent agent Darren Lamb.

Fast Facts

1. Born: November 24, 1974
2. Height: 6'7"
3. Hometown: Bristol, England
4. Girlfriend: Claire Jones
5. Graduated from the University of Warwick
6. Cameo in The Office as "The Oggmonster"

The Office and Extras

After The Office premiered in England in 2001, Merchant and Gervais immediately became household names and were given considerable critical praise. The show won BAFTA TV awards on three consecutive years. They would be nominated for the same awards in 2006-2008 for Extras, though they did not win. The success of The Office allowed Merchant and Gervais substantial creative freedom for their next project. Merchant won a British Comedy Award in 2006 for his role in Extras.

Nicknames

• "Giant albatross hopping on stilts."
• "Lanky goggle-eyed freak."
• "Stick insect with glasses."
• "Upright lizard being given electro-shock treatment."