Ricky admits cancer scares? - Nov 6 2007
Ricky Gervais has apparently revealed that he had two cancer scares, after he lost his mother to lung cancer in 2000.

And the TV comedian, 46, admitted that his health fears have made him take more care of himself, reports the Daily Mirror.

Ricky is quoted as telling Tesco magazine: "After my mum died I twice thought I’d found a lump. Luckily it was nothing, but it scares you. It’s better to be safe than sorry."

He added: "You can have the best life in the world but it means nothing if you haven’t got your health. It’s a real working class male preserve not to go to the doctor.

"But if I get the slightest illness I think I’m going to die."

And The Office actor explained how he tries to work out regularly to counter the effects of eating and drinking "too much".

"I do it so I can live longer and eat more cheese," he added.


Ricky ends Fame - Oct 3 2007
Ricky Gervais’s latest live tour is finally coming to an end nearly nine months after it began.

The 46-year-old comedy mogul began his UK tour in Glasgow in January and tonight (Tuesday) sees the last of his London dates at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Ricky’s third and possibly final UK tour has been widely hailed a success, with the opening night selling out in an incredible nine minutes.

It sees Ricky take the audience on an ironic romp about what it means to be a famous celebrity.

From complaining that the press printed that his house cost £2.5 million - "It was £3.5 million. How am I going to sell it now?" - to discussing toilet graffiti, Ricky covers all the bases.

But for those fans who missed out on seeing him live, or anyone just wanting to see it all over again, the DVD Live 3 - Fame is out on November 12.


Ricky to star in Truth? - Sept 14 2007
Ricky Gervais is reportedly set to star in new film This Side Of The Truth.

The comedian and actor has already signed on to co-direct with his co-writer Matt Robinson and the feature will mark his film directorial debut, reports Variety.

It will be his first major project since filming wrapped on HBO series Extras - which has bagged four Emmy nominations.

The feature is set in a world where no one has ever lied. The 46-year-old will apparently play a performer who tells the first lie and harnesses its power for personal gain.

"My character works in the film industry, where actors are really readers who tell completely factual stories," he told the industry mag.

"My character’s a loser who’s about to lose his job, and who’s lumbering through the 1300s. All he’s got to work with is the Black Death. But once he lies and pretends he’s found lost stories, he becomes the greatest storyteller in the world."

It will start shooting next spring.


Ricky not going into ’Retirement’ - Aug 1 2007
Ricky Gervais has denied reports that he has signed up to star in a new big screen family comedy.

Variety had reported that The Office and Extras star was attached to play the lead in the Warner Bros film Early Retirement - based on Mark Perez’s comedy about an work-obsessed man who quits his demanding job to spend more time with his family.

However Ricky’s British publicist says the reports are false: "The story is untrue. He isn’t doing it. He has been approached, but never agreed to it and won’t be doing it."