
The special Christmas special, which follows Gervais' character, desperate actor Andy Millman, through the extraordinary lengths he’ll go to just to cling on to his celebrity status, leads Gervais - who recently revealed he was embarrassed by his wealth, to say he couldn't care less about his own celebrity status.
“I’m more famous than I should be,” he says. “I was never proud of having money — it nearly ruined becoming a success for me.”
Despite the huge success of The Office & Extras - and a collection of awards to turn any Hollywood luvvie green with envy, Ricky reveals he doesn't watch his own shows - adding that his family would give him a slap if he got too big for his boots.
In fact, the only thing that 46-year-old Gervais HAS splashed out on is a new home in Hampstead, North London, to share with girlfriend Jane Fallon and their cat Colin.
The security-conscious star says: “I’ve turned it into one big panic room! It has steel shutters, just in case. It’s like James Bond — if I could have lasers on the gate I would.
"We’ve already got the security cameras. Actually, if you come near my house I can put you on YouTube!”
Ricky - who has just returned from filming 'Ghost Town' in New York - where he plays dentist Bertram Pincus, spoke about his role in the romantic comedy: “Bertram is quite Scrooge-like. He dies for a few minutes on the operating table during an embarrassing procedure and when he wakes up he can see ghosts, who start to drive him mad.
“So he does a deal with the main ghost, played by Greg Kinnear, who will keep them off his back as long as he breaks up his widow Tea Leoni’s new romance.”
Ricky - famous for his 'David Brent' character in The Office, says that he likes New York so much, he and Jane have been looking for a pad in Manhattan, adding: “I think I’ll die in England, not too soon I hope! But the second best place in the world is New York.”
Ricky also revealed that despite having a the bank balance the size of a king's ransom, as well as a host of celebrity pals including movie legend Steven Spielberg, he insists: “My values really haven’t changed. If you knew my family and friends and Jane you’d know that I can never get away with anything.
“My feet are firmly on the ground. If I ever started being starry, I’d get a slap. I’m more famous than I deserve to be.”
He adds: “Obviously, my circumstances have changed. I don’t work in a normal environment any more really.
“I’ve had the same five friends for 20 years. I’ve got some new friends and a lot are in the media but that’s because it’s my job now.
“People think it’s odd that I know David Bowie. It’s not odd. I’ve worked with these people . . . it’s like saying it’s odd I know Martin Freeman.
“It would be odd if I only had famous friends. Now that would be suspicious.”
"There’s an obvious theme arising here, he laughed. “I think the Beckhams are famous enough now. They’re probably a very sweet couple — but really! They don’t need to do any more photo sessions.
“I think that when fame is your job that’s a problem. It’s bizarre. Sometimes I see people and think, ‘What are you doing this for?’”
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