“One of the Best Days of My Life”: Ricky Gervais Remembers What It Was Like To Work With David Bowie

After becoming the mind behind the original series The Office in 2001, Ricky Gervais found himself becoming friends with the legendary David Bowie. An icon in the music and fashion industry, Gervais didn’t know much about fashion but a great deal about comedy. Sharing a friendship, the two often exchanged emails about their lives and current events. Recently, Gervais recalled what it was like to ask Bowie to appear in his sitcom Extras in 2006. 

Jumping back nearly twenty years, Gervais discussed the episode that had his character Andy Millman running into the famous Bowie. Appearing on the Stick to Football podcast, the comedian recalled wanting Bowie to sing his character a song.  “ In fact, I remember I sent him the lyrics, and I called him up and said ‘Did you get the lyrics’ and he went ‘Yeah, yeah’. And I said give me something sort of retro, like ‘Life On Mars’. And he went ‘Oh yeah, I’ll knock off a quick f**king ‘Life On Mars’ for you’.”

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While excited to meet Bowie, Gervais realized at the time what he was asking the singer to do. “I realized that was so insulting. He’s doing my little sitcom and [I’m asking him] do your opus. I just sort of laughed, and then he came and he was just really funny. He was really charming, really smart, really funny.”

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Ricky Gervais Admits David Bowie Was His Hero

Playing along, both Bowie and Gervais shared a special moment during Extras that continues to live on. And for the comedian, it marked one of the best days of his life because Gervais insisted, “He was a hero of mine. Properly my hero, I’d say.”

Gaining over 3,200 views, fans loved listening to Gervais recall working with Bowie. “I laughed so hard at Bowie’s Life on Mars response! He was hilarious. If anyone doubts Ricky’s admiration for Bowie, listen to anything from his 80s band, Seona Dancing. Bowie was a HUGE influence.” Another person added, “That was my favorite episode. Bowie singing the song had me laughing in tears.”

(Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)