Ricky Gervais is a British comedian and actor born in 1961 in Reading, England. After studying philosophy at University College London, he pursued a brief career in music before forming a writing partnership with Stephen Merchant in the 1990s. Together, they created the popular TV series "The Office" in 2001 which helped launch Gervais' international fame. Stephen Merchant is a British comedian, writer and actor born in 1974 in Bristol, England. He studied film at university and began his career doing stand-up comedy before meeting Ricky Gervais in 1997. Merchant co-wrote and co-produced "The Office" with Gervais in 2001, helping establish both of their careers in television. Graham Linehan is