Pitching his creed to a roomful of comic stars, the pontiff pronounced that it is good to laugh at God. In which case, he may enjoy these
February 2024
Ewen MacIntosh obituary
Character actor who gained a cult following as the downbeat Keith in the TV sitcom The Office
January 2024
Unfunny business: Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais sink to new depths
Netflix’s latest specials show two once-funny comedians continuing to punch down in a desperate, angry quest for relevance
December 2023
The seven best shows to stream this week
The Castaways to Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare – the seven best shows to stream this week
A mystery thriller starring Sheridan Smith as a woman who disappears in a plane crash, plus a deeply startling Netflix documentary
Nothing captures the banality and beauty of a British Christmas like the finale of The Office
Lauren O'Neill
The quintessential crapness of the work party, a kiss surrounded by gawping colleagues – what could be more festive? says culture writer Lauren O’Neill
The seven best shows to stream this week
The Winter King to Trevor Noah: the seven best shows to stream this week
A fine retelling of the beloved Arthurian legend, and a new standup special from the former Daily Show host
November 2023
Flashback
Ashley Jensen looks back: ‘Somehow I got to the point where I was sitting at an awards show with Glenn Close winking at me’
The actor on making Billy Connolly laugh, her surreal life in LA, and finally getting lead roles in her 50s
There’s ample room in comedy to tease at woke over-earnestness but this weak and boorish set fails to engage
November 2022
James Corden responds to accusations he copied a Ricky Gervais joke
The host of The Late Show said he did not know the joke came from Gervais and did not explain how it came to be in his show
August 2022
Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFM review – pioneering 90s indie radio remembered
Documentary charts the station’s rise from pirate outfit to Britpop champion, featuring alumni including Ricky Gervais and Steve Lamacq
July 2022
Observer New Review Q&A
Actor David Earl: ‘Sex scenes? I’d rather go back to gardening’
The comedian on his Sundance hit film about a homemade robot, why Ricky Gervais persuaded him to give up his day job, and being a hopeless romantic
June 2022
The age of extinction
‘It’s neocolonialism’: campaign to ban UK imports of hunting trophies condemned
African delegation says proposed new law ignores local voices and could harm rather than save wildlife
May 2022
Ricky Gervais Netflix special condemned by LGBTQ groups for ‘anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes’
Comedian criticised for ‘dangerous’ special, in which he says he supports trans rights while making jokes about the genitalia of trans women and HIV
January 2022
Observer TV reviews
The week in TV: Euphoria; Rules of the Game; Screw; After Life
Euphoria’s crazy teens return wilder than ever; the BBC’s new workplace drama should’ve kept things at the office; and it’s goodbye to Ricky Gervais’s tonally strange After Life
December 2021
Ricky Gervais on offence, anger and infuriating Hollywood: ‘You have to provoke. It’s a good thing’
He has made a career out of winding people up in everything from The Office to his Golden Globes speeches – but is the comedian’s bark worse than his bite?
October 2021
Stephen Merchant: ‘I see The Outlaws as a suburban, low-rent western’
The comic actor and writer on his new sitcom about community service, sharing Christopher Walken’s omelette and portraying a serial killer
September 2021
Ricky Gervais review – white heterosexual millionaire titters at his own taboos
The age of extinction
Rewriting extinction: Ricky Gervais joins celebrities creating comics to save species
October 2020
The return of Spitting Image shows how toothless British satire has become
Nesrine Malik
Satirists should lampoon the powerful – but the real bile is now reserved for those on the margins, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
July 2020
Book of the day
Dear NHS, edited by Adam Kay – celebrities say thank you
Tales of embarrassing injuries and moments of poignance, plus some poor efforts, in a revealing collection of essays
