British Comedy: Extras

Years: 2005-2007
Broadcaster: BBC
Genre: Sitcom
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen
Episodes: 13
Episode Average: 9.000*

BEST EPISODES:
The Extra Special Series Finale (2007), Kate Winslet (2005)

*including special

SERIES ONE

(2005)
6 episodes
Series Score: 50
Episode Average: 8.33
Perfect 10's: 1

S1E1

BEN STILLER

Originally broadcast: 21 July 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Andy asks a man who lost his family to get him a line in a Ben Stiller film, talking to the producer at a party leads to a chat about Japanese cinema, and Maggie's shocked when she sees that a lovely guy wears a big shoe.

"Okay, all right, do you think this is funny? You think war is funny? Do you think genocide is funny? Huh? Are you his mom? Yeah. Let me ask you this. Do you think this would be funny? If I shot your mother right now? If I shot your mummy in the face, would that make you laugh? Do you think this would be funny? Huh? If I blew your mother's face off right now in front of you, would that make you laugh? Okay, so maybe you should think of that next time you trip, okay?"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E2

ROSS KEMP & VINNIE JONES

Originally broadcast: 28 July 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Andy asks his agent why he still hasn't found him any proper acting jobs, Maggie suggests that she's not smart enough for a handsome actor, and Ross Kemp talks of destroying Vinnie Jones when he's asked about a line.

"It doesn't stand for that... I've talked to actual SAS people, they've told me what it stands for... Super Army Soldiers."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E3

KATE WINSLET

Originally broadcast: 4 August 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Kate Winslet gives Maggie some advice about talking dirty on the phone, Darren's reminded about a sitcom script that he's neglected to send off, and Andy lies about his faith to avoid upsetting a girl with cerebral palsy.

"Oh, yeah, that can be a bit awkward. Why don't you start with something light, you know, like... um... 'I'd love it if you stuck your Willy Wonka between my Oompa-Loompa's.' You know, something a bit fun, a bit jokey, and then you can get more hardcore. Rattle off the old classics like, 'I'm playing with my dirty pillows.'"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E4

LES DENNIS

Originally broadcast: 11 August 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Andy finds that he was chosen as a last resort for a role in a pantomime,
Maggie's invited to a birthday party by a girl she met on a kids' show, and Les Dennis discovers that his young girlfriend has been unfaithful to him.

"Oh, it's a local paper. Don't want to blow me own, not with my back, but there's a little article in here..."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E5

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

Originally broadcast: 18 August 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

A lonely middle-aged extra gets Andy a line in a Samuel L. Jackson film, Maggie's worries that racism might spoil her chances with a black actor, and a lie about being Jewish leads to an extremely uncomfortable meal.

"No, no, I can assure you I was not in The Matrix, but Laurence Fishburne was."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E6

PATRICK STEWART

Originally broadcast: 25 August 2005
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Patrick Stewart tells Andy about the screenplay that he has been writing, Darren tries to take the credit when interest is shown in the sitcom, and Maggie causes a problem by telling a camp script editor to tone it down.

"For instance, I'm walking along and I see this beautiful girl, and I think I'd like to see her naked, so all her clothes fall off... And she's scrabbling around to get them back on again, but even before she can even get her knickers on, I've seen everything. You know. I've seen it all."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

SERIES TWO

(2006)
6 episodes
Series Score: 57
Episode Average: 9.50
Perfect 10's: 3

S2E1

ORLANDO BLOOM

Originally broadcast: 14 September 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Orlando Bloom claims to be a bigger hit with women than Johnny Depp, Andy worries that his sitcom has become something that he didn't want, and Darren keeps Barry on standby so he can step in if things go wrong.

"Yeah. They're going, 'Oh, Orlando, who's that freak over there that we didn't notice?' I'm going, 'It's Johnny Depp', you know, and they're going, 'Who cares? You were Legolas in Lord of the Rings', 'Oh look at me, I make art-house movies', 'Oh, I've got scissors for hands', Willy Wonka? Johnny Wanker!"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E2

DAVID BOWIE

Originally broadcast: 21 September 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

When the Whistle Blows is savaged by the critics despite decent ratings, being recognised by a homeless man and a weirdo doesn't go down well, and Andy makes way for David Bowie after heading to an exclusive club.

"Chubby little loser,
National joke... No, not chubby little loser...
Pathetic little fat man,
No one's blood laughing,
The clown that no one laughs at,
They all just wish he'd die."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E3

DANIEL RADCLIFFE

Originally broadcast: 28 September 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Darren manages to get confused after taking a call about a part in a film,
Daniel Radcliffe does his best to get every woman he meets into bed, and Andy's slammed for complaining about a noisy kid with Down syndrome.

"Have you still get that cat suit from The Avengers?"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E4

CHRIS MARTIN

Originally broadcast: 5 October 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

An offer from Chris Martin sees him perform in When the Whistle Blows, Andy's dismissive when he's told that he's been nominated for a BAFTA, and Darren turns up at the awards ceremony with a Ray doll prototype.

"Can we get on with this? I've got to do AIDS and Alzheimer's and landmines this afternoon, and I want to get back for Deal or No Deal, plus Gwyneth's making drumsticks."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E5

SIR IAN McKELLEN

Originally broadcast: 12 October 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Darren invites Maggie to dinner after seeing a ladies' man catch his prey, Sir Ian McKellen offers a few tips about how to get into a character, and Andy's horrified when he finds that an audition is for a part in a gay play.

"George, can you get us some Vaseline?"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E6

JONATHAN ROSS

Originally broadcast: 19 October 2006
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

A mother asks her son's comedy hero to visit him while he's in hospital, Maggie feels left out when Andy starts hanging out with Jonathan Ross, and Darren's told to arrange a meeting with Robert De Niro or be fired.

"This is my toy, right, but this is his toy, I had to buy this separately."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

SPECIAL

(2007)

SPECIAL

THE EXTRA SPECIAL SERIES FINALE

Originally broadcast: 27 December 2007
Written and Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Maggie's forced to downsize when she calls time on her work as an extra, Darren's devastated by news that he has lost his only working client, and the BBC are furious when Andy brings When the Whistle Blows to an end.

"Why are the extras running around bothering me? Why aren't they in their paddock, or wherever you keep them?"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

ANDY MILLMAN

Played by Ricky Gervais
13 episodes (2005-2007)
in... The Extra Special Series Finale (-)

MAGGIE JACOBS

Played by Ashley Jensen
13 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Chris Martin (S1E4)

DARREN LAMB

Played by Stephen Merchant
11 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Jonathan Ross (S1E6)

BARRY OFF EASTENDERS

Played by Shaun Williamson
10 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Patrick Stewart (S1E6)

GREG LINDLEY-JONES

Played by Shaun Pye
7 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Ross Kemp & Vinnie Jones (S1E2)

KIMBERLEY

Played by Sarah Moyle
6 episodes (2006-2007)
in... Daniel Radcliffe (S2E3)

GOBBLER

Played by Andrew Buckley
6 episodes (2006-2007)
in... Daniel Radcliffe (S2E3)

BRAINS

Played by Jamie Chapman
6 episodes (2006-2007)
in... Daniel Radcliffe (S2E3)

DAMON BEESLEY

Played by Martin Savage
4 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Patrick Stewart (S1E6)

IAIN MORRIS

Played by Guy Henry
4 episodes (2005-2007)
in... Orlando Bloom (S2E3)

RITA

Played by Liza Tarbuck
4 episodes (2006-2007)
in... David Bowie (S2E2)

BUNNY

Played by Gerard Kelly
3 episodes (2005-2007)
in... The Extra Special Series Finale (-)