The Office is a British television comedy series, created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and first aired in the UK on BBC Two on July 9, 2001. After the show's critical success an American version was launched, premiering on NBC on March 24, 2005. Comedy is the use of humor in the form of theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. ... Ricky Gervais (born June 25, 1961) is an English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire, England. ... X-FM Promotional Photo Stephen Merchant (born November 24, 1974 in Bristol, England) is co-writer and co-director with Ricky Gervais of the popular British sitcoms The Office and Extras, as well as being a co-host on Xfm London and the ricky gervais podcasts. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC and the first British television channel to broadcast regularly in colour (from 1967), envisaged as a home for less mainstream and more ambitious programming. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Office is a television show, broadcast by NBC and co-produced by Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille Productions, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. ... NBC, formerly called the National Broadcasting Company, is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Widely acclaimed as the most successful BBC comedy in this decade, two six-episode series have been made, along with a pair of 45-minute Christmas specials. The show has been sold in over 60 countries worldwide. Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation. ... Christmas (literally, the Mass of Jesus Christ) is a traditional holiday observed on 25 December. ...

The show is set in Slough, a satellite town of London which the DVD blurb describes as "dreary", in a small branch of the fictitious paper company Wernham Hogg (where "life is stationery"). The show has no laugh track and is in the mockumentary style, devised at a time when documentaries such as Airport and A Life of Grime (which follow people performing their jobs) were popular. Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in the county of Berkshire in the south of England. ... The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London (see Wiktionary:London for the name in other languages) is the capital of the United Kingdom and England. ... A laugh track, laughter track or canned laughter is a separate soundtrack with the artificial sound of audience laughter, made to be inserted into TV comedy shows and sitcoms. ... Mockumentary, a portmanteau of mock documentary (also fictional documentary or false documentary), is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. ...

The office is managed by David Brent (Gervais) along with his assistant, Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook), a lieutenant in the Territorial Army. Much of the series' comedic success stems from David, who frequently makes attempts to win favour with his employees and peers with embarrassing or disastrous results. David's character flaws are used to comic effect, including numerous verbal gaffes, unconscious racism, sexism and other social faux-pas. David Brent is the boss and primary character from BBC television comedy The Office played by co-writer Ricky Gervais. ... Gareth Keenan is a fictional character on the BBC comedy The Office who is best described as a boy in a mans body. ... Mackenzie Crook (born September 29, 1971) is an English actor best known for playing Gareth Keenan in The Office. ... The British Territorial Army is part of the British Army, composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at the same rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular equivalents. ...

Other characters include the unassuming Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman), whose relationship with bored receptionist Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis) is a major arc in the series. Their flirtation soon builds to a mutual romantic attraction, despite her engagement to the dour and laddish warehouse worker, Lee (Joel Beckett). Tim Canterbury is a main character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Martin Freeman. ... Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent, waking up at the beginning of the Hitchhikers Guide. ... Dawn Tinsley is a character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Lucy Davis. ... Lucy Davis (born 2nd January 1973) is an English actress. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Main characters

The Office is essentially a character-based comedy, following around the people who work in the office environment. Whilst being more of an ensemble piece than star-driven, four characters in particular are the primary focus of the show:

David Brent (Ricky Gervais)

David Brent is the general manager of the Slough offices of the Wernham Hogg paper merchants. He considers himself to be a Renaissance man, talented in philosophy, music, and most importantly, comedy. He believes that he is everyone's friend, a stand-up comedian of rare talent, and the most well-liked boss in history. Unfortunately for him, he is none of these. He is, in fact, petty, pompous and snide, and this is proven time and time again as he bumbles around the office (always hovering around the camera) telling unfunny jokes, performing hackneyed impressions and generally getting himself into trouble by talking before thinking, and then proceeding to dig himself in deeper. Brent considers himself to be a modern, politically correct man, but he often displays patronising (and at times borderline offensive) attitudes towards women, ethnic minorities, homosexuals and disabled people. However, he is not the boss from hell — just a rather sad but essentially well-meaning man whose job means much more to him than it probably should. Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in the county of Berkshire in the south of England. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Merchants function as professionals who deal with trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves, in order to produce profit. ... Leonardo da Vinci A polymath (also known as a polyhistor) is a person who excels in multiple fields, particularly in both arts and sciences. ... The Philosopher (detail), by Rembrandt Philosophy is a study that includes various diverse subfields such as aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics. ... Music is an art, entertainment, or other human activity which involves structured and audible sound, though definitions vary. ... Comedy is the use of humor in the form of theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. ... Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. ... Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. ...

Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman)

Tim is a sales rep at Wernham Hogg. Unlike David, he actually is funny, likeable and popular. Also, unlike David, he is unpretentious and very much aware of the crushing pointlessness of what it is he does for a living. He is much more intelligent than his job demands. He dropped out of university and, at 30, lives with his parents, doing a job that's beneath him. However, similar to David, there seems to be little chance of him actually freeing himself. As such, he maintains his grip on sanity by flirting with Dawn (on whom he has a serious crush) and playing childish, practical jokes on Gareth. He actually humours David in his efforts on occasion. He is, quite possibly, the nicest and most likeable person in the office.

Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook)

Gareth is Tim's deskmate — and his arch nemesis. Unlike Tim, Gareth is humourlessly devoted to his job. He is completely obsessed with the army, frequently boasts about his experiences in the Territorial Army, and enjoys annoying Tim as much as possible. He has been given the role of Team Leader, a role with few perks and absolutely no authority — but this doesn't stop him from lording it over everyone else in the office anyway. He never lets Tim borrow any of his personal possessions, although Tim usually ends up stealing and hiding them. He believes himself to be world-wise, sophisticated and charming to the opposite sex. He isn't. He is also under the impression that he and David Brent are buddies, a view which Brent sometimes does not seem to share. Brent's favourite way of undermining Gareth is to remind him he is "Assistant to the Regional Manager" rather than (in Gareth's words) "Assistant Regional Manager". In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ...

Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis)

Dawn is Wernham Hogg's receptionist, and David Brent's dogsbody. It is frequently she who has to put up with Brent's attempts at humour and social interaction. Her life is made even more thankless with her engagement to Lee. Her best friend (and secret crush) is Tim, and they can usually be found hanging around the reception desk flirting with each other and thinking up practical jokes to play on Gareth. Like Tim, she is intelligent and aware of the dullness of her job. She used to illustrate children's books but, due to work and her fiancé, finds herself with no time to do this. This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ...

Other characters

Several other recurring characters, although not central to the episodes, have made their mark on office life. These include:

"Big" Keith (Ewen Macintosh): Keith works in the accounts department, which is perhaps fitting because he's like a human statue. Emotionless and apparently suffering short-term amnesia, he usually has the least helpful advice to give to anyone whenever they're in need of it. He likes eating scotch eggs. Ewen Macintosh Ewen Macintosh is a British actor. ... A Scotch egg is a snack food of Scottish origin consisting of a cold, hard-boiled egg removed from its shell, wrapped in a sausage meat mixture, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. ...

Chris Finch (Ralph Ineson): David's so-called 'best friend', 'Finchy' is a loud-mouthed, unpleasant bully who delights in cruelly putting David down at every opportunity. He can throw a kettle over a pub, though, so he's not entirely without redeeming merit. He is also known for reading a book a week (apparently, a book of trivia questions). Given his many disagreeable qualities, he's surprisingly successful in attracting women. Chris Finch (Finchy) is a character in the BBC comedy show, The Office. ... Ralph Ineson is an English actor best known for playing the character of Chris Finch on the BBC television program The Office. ...

Jennifer Taylor-Clarke (Stirling Gallacher): David's boss in the first series. Jennifer is professional and stern, and does not seem particularly amused by David's comedy-driven style of management. David calls her Camilla Parker-Bowles — "Not to her face, of course." Stirling Gallacher is a British TV and stage actress best known for her roles as in the medical drama Doctors and as Jennifer Taylor-Clarke in the comedy series The Office. ... Camilla Parker Bowles (born July 17 1947) was mistress, now girlfriend, of Charles, Prince of Wales. ...

Lee (Joel Beckett): Dawn's fiancé. It's not quite clear how they managed to hook up. Where Dawn is bright and cheerful, Lee is dour, humourless and aloof: a gruff working class man whose idea of an amorous proposal is a four-word notice in the newspaper and whose idea of a romantic Christmas present is to give Dawn the money to choose something herself. This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Neil Godwin (Patrick Baladi): David's boss in the second series. Originally Brent's counterpart at the Swindon branch of the company, Neil was promoted ahead of him when Brent failed the medical examination. Neil is young, charming, and professional. He is also better than Brent is at almost everything and, to pour vinegar into the wound, is well-liked, popular and funny. Not surprisingly, Brent resents him with a passion. Neil Godwin is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom, The Office, played by Patrick Baladi. ... Patrick Baladi - Image from PFD Talent Agency (U.K.) Patrick Baladi is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Neil Godwin on BBCs hit comedy series, The Office. ...

Oliver (Howard Saddler): One of the series two intake from Swindon. Oliver is good natured, tolerant and easy-going. Which is good for him, since he is the only person of colour working in the office and as such is the target for most of Brent's well-meaning but hideously misguided attempts to show what a politically correct and racially tolerant guy he is.

Rachel (Stacey Roca): Another of the series two intake from Swindon. Rachel is bubbly, enthusiastic, and attractive — a fact not lost on either Gareth or Tim, who both go after her during the series. Not surprisingly, she prefers Tim. Also not surprisingly, Dawn is completely jealous of her.

Brenda (Julie Fernandez): Another of the former employees of the Swindon branch, Brenda is a wheelchair user, which naturally brings out the worst in Brent. During a fire drill, he and Gareth attempt to carry Brenda down the stairs but ultimately, as they see it as being too much effort for a mere drill, abandoning her on the way down. Needless to say, Brenda is not impressed by Brent's patronising behaviour. She, like Oliver, is another character whose purpose is to highlight Brent's general ineptitude and the gulf between what he and everyone else sees as being tolerant and politically correct. Julie Fernandez Julie Fernandez (born April 20, 1974) is a British actress, television presenter and journalist. ...

Episodes

Series 1

Series 1 of The Office was first broadcast in the UK between 9 July and 20 August 2001. July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

Episode One

We are introduced to the staff of Wernham Hogg. David learns that the branch must either economise or be merged with Swindon. Dawn gets a 'hilarious' practical joke played on her by David — and it all ends in tears. Tim keeps setting Gareth's stapler in jelly. Just an average day, then.

Episode Two

An e-mailed pornographic picture with Brent's head superimposed over one of the participants is circulating the office, which Brent hates because 'it offends women'. Gareth is subsequently asked to launch a low-key 'investigation', which means he spends a lot of time making up signs for his temporary 'office'. Will the finger of blame be pointed at the right person? And will Big Keith decide whether he meant to say yes or no?

Episode Three

It's Tim's 30th birthday. Unfortunately for him, it's also the staff pub quiz night, which Brent and his 'mate' Chris Finch have won six years in a row. And victory for a seventh year will hinge on a lot of questions about war and the ability to throw a shoe over a pub.

Episode Four

It's staff training day at Wernham Hogg, and an outside facilitator has come in to educate the Slough branch about customer care. Brent, naturally, is determined to undermine him at every opportunity. Meanwhile, Dawn and Lee are having trouble in their relationship. Is this Tim's moment to make his move? The answer is tragically inevitable.

Episode Five

Brent decides to hire a secretary, because "he needs one". Tim has resolved to quit his job, determined to go back to university and make something of his life. To change his mind, Brent has convinced him to go out on the town with him, Gareth and Finchy. The nightclub they select is Chasers. The evening cannot be described in any way as fun.

Episode Six

It is the day of judgement at Wernham Hogg: Brent can either accept a promotion and the downsizing of his branch, or remain in his present job and accept an influx of workers from the Swindon branch. Naturally, Brent accepts the promotion. Glumly, everyone seems prepared to lose their jobs — but surprises will be sprung by more than one person.

Series 2

The second series of The Office was originally broadcast in the UK between 30 September and 4 November 2002. September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

Episode One

The Slough branch has remained open, and the new Swindon intake are due in. Brent is preparing to mark the occasion with one of his stand-up routines. It turns out to be one of the most hideously uncomfortable experiences ever endured by anyone alive. He also meets his new boss, Neil, and begins to hate him instantly. Tim, meanwhile, has been persuaded to stay with a promotion and a pay increase. Dawn is upset because Tim starts taking his job more seriously. Gareth is upset because Tim actually has authority over him now.

Episode Two

It is the day of the staff appraisals, in which we learn that Dawn wants to be a children's illustrator, and that Keith appears to have short-term amnesia. The Swindon lot also indicate that they don't think everything's all right in Slough, and that they preferred Neil to David as a manager. David immediately challenges them to accompany him for a drink to prove he's more fun. Naturally, it doesn't work.

Episode Three

It is an employee's birthday. The atmosphere is fun and a little bit sensual, kind of like a shower in the dark. Naturally, Brent's jealousy, snideness and general social ineptness manages to ruin it all. He is approached to do some outside management training, and delights in informing everyone who'll listen — and most who won't — how much he'll be paid by hour.

Episode Four

Tim has started seeing Rachel, a fellow employee — which naturally gets right up Dawn's nose. Gareth is trying to impress the visiting office computer geek, and it's Brent's big day: the day of his management presentation. His ultra-unorthodox approach, rambling monologue, and use of both a book of Native American wisdom and a Tina Turner song ensure that it is a session not likely to be forgotten by those in attendance. Tina Turner on the cover of her 1991 compilation album Simply the Best Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock, November 26, 1939) is an American R&B, pop, rock and soul singer, Buddhist and occasional actress. ...

Episode Five

It's Red Nose Day at Wernham Hogg, which Brent treats like a national holiday. Gareth is hopping everywhere, Dawn is selling kisses, Neil is disco-dancing and Tim is hiding Gareth's possessions for charity. Brent is eagerly awaiting a photo opportunity from the local paper, but storm clouds are headed his way. And Tim gets a free kiss. For a description of the origin of the term comic relief see comic relief. ...

Episode Six

Facing redundancy, Brent is approaching the end of his time at Wernham Hogg with a smile that fools absolutely no one and the increasing realization that no one is particularly bothered that he's leaving. Dawn is leaving to go to America with Lee, and Tim is torn between the two women in his life. And — perhaps worst of all — Gareth has been promoted.

Christmas Specials

While Gervais and Merchant said there will be no further series, they did write two additional 45-minute episodes, which first aired in the United Kingdom on BBC One on Boxing Day and 27 December 2003. Viewing Figure History BBC One (or BBC1 as it was formerly styled) is the oldest television station in the world. ... Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on 26 December. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Episode One

It's Christmas time and we meet up with the Wernham Hogg team two years after the documentary that made them famous. David is now a travelling salesman, who following a failed cover version of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (which didn't even make the Top 100), leeches off what little fame he has in a series of demeaning late-night appearances alongside a crowd of Z-list Big Brother rejects and very minor celebrities. Dawn is in Florida, trapped in a miserable existence with Lee, who is bouncing from job to job as they live with his sister rent-free (and hidden from the immigration authorities). Gareth is now the general manager (although he still gets as little respect as ever) and Tim is still trapped in a job he hates with an obnoxious, pregnant deskmate he loathes just as equally. But the Christmas party is coming up... In pop music a cover version is a new rendition of a previously recorded song. ... The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British record industry. ... Big Brother is a TV reality show shown on Channel 4 in which a number of contestants live in an isolated house trying to avoid being evicted by the public with the aim of winning a large cash prize at the end of the run. ...

Episode Two

David is searching online for a date to the Christmas party. His first three matches are complete disasters. His fourth one, surprisingly, isn't. Dawn is back for the Christmas party with Lee, and her friendship with Tim is still as strong as ever — and her feelings for him possibly even more so. Will Tim and Dawn end up together? Will David screw up a promising relationship? Will someone finally tell Finchy where to go? And — possibly most important of all — will Gareth finally realise what an utter prat he is?

Awards

In January 2004, The Office won the Golden Globe Award for "Best Television Series: Musical Or Comedy", beating nominees Arrested Development, Monk, Sex and the City and Will & Grace. It was the only British comedy to be nominated for a Golden Globe in 25 years, and the first to ever win one. Ricky Gervais was also awarded the Golden Globe for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy" for his role. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... For the main article see Golden Globe Award. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Monk is a television show about an obsessive-compulsive detective named Adrian Monk (played by actor Tony Shalhoub). ... Sex and the City was an American cable television program based on the book of the same name. ... Will & Grace is a popular American television situation comedy focusing on Will Truman, a gay attorney and his best friend Grace Adler, a straight Jewish woman who runs her own interior design firm. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ...

The series won the Best TV Comedy award, and Gervais the Best TV Comedy Actor award, at the British Comedy Awards 2002. Date: December 14, 2002 Location: London Studios, London Host: Jonathan Ross Broacaster: ITV Television and film Winners first; nominees indented Best TV Comedy The Office Black Books Peter Kays Phoenix Nights Best New TV Comedy The Kumars at No. ...

In 2005, the series' concluding two-part special was nominated for two Emmys in the categories of "Outstanding Made for Television Movie" and "Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special" [1]. In February 2006, Gervais and Merchant announced that they would be returning to the series to write an episode for the third season of the American version.[2] An Emmy Award. ...

Cast

Main cast

• Lucy Davis ... Dawn Tinsley
• Mackenzie Crook ... Gareth Keenan
• Martin Freeman ... Tim Canterbury
• Patrick Baladi ... Neil Godwin
• Ralph Ineson ... Chris Finch
• Ricky Gervais ... David Brent
• Stirling Gallacher ... Jennifer Taylor-Clark

Lucy Davis (born 2nd January 1973) is an English actress. ... Dawn Tinsley is a character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Lucy Davis. ... Mackenzie Crook (born September 29, 1971) is an English actor best known for playing Gareth Keenan in The Office. ... Gareth Keenan is a fictional character on the BBC comedy The Office who is best described as a boy in a mans body. ... Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent, waking up at the beginning of the Hitchhikers Guide. ... Tim Canterbury is a main character in the BBC sitcom The Office, played by Martin Freeman. ... Patrick Baladi - Image from PFD Talent Agency (U.K.) Patrick Baladi is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Neil Godwin on BBCs hit comedy series, The Office. ... Neil Godwin is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom, The Office, played by Patrick Baladi. ... Ralph Ineson is an English actor best known for playing the character of Chris Finch on the BBC television program The Office. ... Chris Finch (Finchy) is a character in the BBC comedy show, The Office. ... Ricky Gervais (born June 25, 1961) is an English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire, England. ... David Brent is the boss and primary character from BBC television comedy The Office played by co-writer Ricky Gervais. ... Stirling Gallacher is a British TV and stage actress best known for her roles as in the medical drama Doctors and as Jennifer Taylor-Clarke in the comedy series The Office. ...

Minor cast

Series One & Two

• Joel Beckett ... Lee
• Ben Bradshaw ... Ben
• Nicola Cotter ... Karen Roper
• Jamie Deeks ... Jamie
• Vincent Franklin ... Rowan (training facilitator)
• Jane Lucas ... Sheila
• Ewen Macintosh ... Keith
• Emma Manton ... Emma
• Ron Merchant ... Gordon
• Alexander Perkins ... Ralph
• Phillip Pickard ... Phillip
• Peter Purves ... Himself (cameo)
• David Schaal ... Glynn

This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Ewen Macintosh Ewen Macintosh is a British actor. ... Peter Purves (publicity portrait) Peter Purves (born February 10, 1939) is a British actor and television presenter. ...

Series One only

• Sally Bretton ... Donna
• Oliver Chris ... Ricky Howard
• Angela Clerkin ... Jackie
• Yvonne D'Alpra ... Joan
• Robin Hooper ... Malcolm

British Actor who appeared in The Office and Green Wing. ...

Series Two only

• Julie Fernandez ... Brenda
• Tom Goodman-Hill ... Ray
• Jennifer Hennessy ... Jude
• Matthew Holness ... Simon (the computer geek)
• Rachel Isaac ... Trudy
• Stephen Merchant ... Oggie
• Tony MacMurray ... Tony
• Stacey Roca ... Rachel
• Howard Saddler ... Oliver

Julie Fernandez Julie Fernandez (born April 20, 1974) is a British actress, television presenter and journalist. ... Matthew Holness is a British comedian who writes and stars in the cult horror comedy Garth Marenghis Darkplace on Channel 4 and the Internet. ... X-FM Promotional Photo Stephen Merchant (born November 24, 1974 in Bristol, England) is co-writer and co-director with Ricky Gervais of the popular British sitcoms The Office and Extras, as well as being a co-host on Xfm London and the ricky gervais podcasts. ...

See also

• Quotes from The Office (UK) on Wikiquotes
• Slough Trading Estate

The Slough Trading Estate founded in Slough, Berkshire in 1920, was the UK’s first business park. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Office

• Ricky Gervais' Website
• The Office at The Internet Movie Database
• Official BBC Website
• British Sitcom Guide
• British Film Institute Screen Online
• The World of The Office Unofficial fan site including an active forum.