It’s been a while since we’ve updated you on an ongoing Ricky Gervais project, and while having been around for a few months already, we’ve decided to take this opportunity to let you know that Derek, by Ricky Gervais exists. And your life would be poorer without it.

Take it away, Wikipedia.

 Filmed in a mockumentary style, the show stars, and was written and directed by, Ricky Gervais. It is set in an old people’s home and centres on a helper at the home, Derek, played by Gervais.^[8] The title character is based on one who first appeared in Gervais’ stand-up show “Rubbernecker” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2001.^[9] The show portrays the home’s workers and residents as unhappy outsiders who struggle in life due to being disadvantaged, excluded from, and unwanted by, mainstream society.

Very well done, thanks.

In our opinion, Derek may well be the pinnacle of Gervais’ writing genius, apart from every ocassion in which he’s been hosting the academy awards. This series is incredibly funny, but also genuinely poignant at exactly the right moments. Check out the original pilot series above.

Get Derek on iTunes, here.

Check out the official fan site, here.

 [Thanks, Cohen]