Ricky and the boys are back in town
When we launched the Ricky Gervais show as a podcast earlier this week, we asked you to post the questions you'd like to ask Ricky, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington. Thanks to all who sent them in - too many to answer at one go (our Ricky's a busy man these days), so here's a sample from the original blog.
And make sure to check in again this Monday, when we release episode two of the podcast into the wild ...
- What did you think of the face transplant that happened last week? Would you ever have one if needed? Not that you do, of course, but just in case you ever have your face torn off. Posted by Emma Edwards
RG: I love it when those programmes come on the telly, things like "I Married a Three-Pound Tumour", because I know that at exactly the same moment Karl is watching them too. I catch myself laughing out loud at the thought of Karl watching these strange programmes - ghosts, medical documentaries, doing his girlfriend's head in all the time. He came in once and said that "Suzanne's asked me to stop watching them, because I woke up one morning and said 'what's the meaning of the universe?'". You can't really cope, living with that.
KP: I've heard all about this. I read the face has to come off a body that is still alive - so how's it going to work? I'm all for sharing but if John Merrick was around now and I volunteered for a swap and I woke up with his looks, I wouldn't be happy. Whose face would fit his head, anyway? Daft idea. If I'd have come up with it, Ricky would've called me an idiot.
- When is your next stand-up going to be? I'm sure I heard you on xfm saying it was going to be about science - I'm intrigued. Also, what is that music on your website? I think it's Hendrix but can't for the life of me put a name to the song! It's doing my head in! Posted by Sam Grey
RG: I started writing Science and I've got half a bag of observations, but it's taking a back seat because my day job is writing narrative comedy with Stephen. Extras comes first, and that's sort of the way it is. But I'm getting there. It's like an academic exercise - I'm doing it to test myself.
My ambition is to get to the sort of place where Stewart Lee is this year - he has such a strong voice, which is really important. And I'd like to get to the stage where I'm as funny as am when I'm in a pub with people that know me well.
About the music, it's not Hendrix - it's Lenny Kravitz, the bloke who sounds a bit like him. Actually, Stephen had to tell me that. It's like sitting across the room from Paul Gambaccini.
- In light of the recent national and international acclaim for The Office and Extras, could you tell me what your least favourite soup is? Mine is tomato. Posted by Ben Whitney
RG: Funnily enough, before I became a global megastar my favourite soup was tomato. Now there are loads of newfangled soups all over the place, but even so, it's still tomato. It's the king of soups. I can get through an entire loaf of bread with tomato soup. It just shows you that stardom doesn't change people.
As for least favourite - never had that cold one, seems like a con: warm it up, don't be stupid. Fishy soup, that doesn't work, that's silly.
- Have you thought of what to get Steve and Karl for Christmas? Maybe a pair of gloves for Steve and a duster for Karl's head? Give him a bit of Crimbo shine. Posted by David McHumphreys
KP: A helmet would be useful. It would come in handy and sort out the issue discussed in the next question.
- Whatever happened to the plan to lift Karl into the air using only party balloons? Posted by Tristan P RG: If I had my way, I would do experiments on Karl. The whole relationship is a bit of an experiment. He's fascinating. I'd have him living in my cupboard, I'd feed him and put a little camcorder on his head and see what he does.
KP: I don't know what happened to that idea. Two possible answers: a) It was up to Steve to buy the balloons and he worked out that it'd cost him over a quid, so he binned the idea; or b) Ricky worked out if I was high up in the air, he would no longer be able to whack his mobile phone on my head "to see what sound it makes".
- Ricky, I have noticed that you seem to choose your friends (with the possible exception of Steve) based on their consenting nature towards you "bullying" them. Examples: Karl, Robin Ince and Nigel. Any reason for this? Posted by Josh
RG: Well, Josh, I give you the same answer that I've given others: because I like it. I like bullying Karl because he's got a perfectly round head. I challenge anyone to keep their hands to themselves with that sort of temptation.
- You obviously have the ability to incessantly wind people up. I wonder: do you annoy even yourself sometimes? Posted by Patricia
RG: Yes, sometimes I do get bored with me, particularly if I do a session of interviews in a row. It gives me a headache, having this voice, saying certain things. I could write a book about the things that annoy me. I'll walk into a restaurant and sometimes it's wrong, or someone has the wrong voice, or I'm too close to the fire or something. Noisy eating, that's another annoying thing. I tried it myself when I was alone and I had to stop because it annoyed me so much.
- Karl Pilkington is clearly funnier than you and Merchant combined. Have you hidden him away because you see him as a threat? Posted by Terry Jones
RG: The thing is that Stephen and I see ourselves as like Anthony Hopkins in the Elephant Man film. We want to take him to the Royal College of Surgeons, show them what he's like. Maybe stick on some electrodes, open him up. They could do what they do with chimps, teach him rudimentary skills with rewards. I want the world to see Karl.
SM: I see it as more of a Barnum and Bailey thing: we should put him on show, prod him, torture him. Though my dream would be for him to be like one of those Texan farmers who gets picked up by an alien craft and probed.
- Are you still on speaking terms with all the celebrities who appeared on Extras? Posted by John Roche
RG: I have to say that we never were on speaking terms with the celebrities, not really. What would worry me is if people thought that I got in my showbiz chums, that I play golf with them or go skiing with Ben Stiller. It's not like that, I'm not getting my mates in. I guess the question means: did we ruin their careers? Well, I say they've had a good innings, so that's fair enough.
Actually, we told them that it was a bit like Andre Previn going on Morecambe and Wise. We didn't tell them that, for instance, they'd be dressing up as nuns and giving sex advice.
- I'm a big fan of Karl's and in May I will be taking my GCSEs. Like Karl I am doing a GCSE in history and I was just wondering if he could give me any pointers or tips on the exam? Thanks. Posted by Louis Laurence
KP: I wouldn't bother. And your exam is gonna be harder than mine because I took mine years ago. Think of all the new history that has happened since! That's all extra stuff that you'll need to learn, innit?
- Has anyone asked you if Stephen Merchant ever reminds you of a Nick Park Creature Comforts character before? I can't help but just see a giant, goggly-eyed, plasticine tortoise whenever he's on the telly (sorry, Stephen). Posted by David White
RG: Now Stephen's looking at me ... I have to say to me he doesn't look like that. He looks exactly like Beaker from the Muppets. We were doing a scene once where we were talking about it and he said: "Yeah, that's right, I'm trying to be a bit like Beaker." He really aims as high as that. Me, I try to be a bit like Robert de Niro.
SM: I have to say I aspire to look like the someone from the Jim Henson workshop, yeah. It's a great thing if you happen to be working in comedy. In comedy, you're better off looking like the Lurpak man. Or Morph.
- Would you rather have a one-foot body and five foot legs or a five-foot body and one-foot legs? Don't worry too much, it's not a life-or-deather. Posted by Chris
RG: Ironically those two descriptions fit both Stephen and me exactly. I really enjoy having a five-foot body, and Stephen's scuttling up the walls as we speak.
