Ricky Gervais: 'After Life' could go beyond second series

Ricky Gervais has admitted he may let his Netflix series After Life run to a third series.

The Office star writes, directs and stars in the black comedy about a widower who stops caring about life after losing his wife to cancer.

Gervais said of After Life, which has just been commissioned for a seconds series: “As I’m getting older now I might milk it a bit more.”

The 57-year-old comedian added: “I do [have an idea for a special]. I do think that might be right. Unless I can get some of the cast to help me write the third series and just sit back and just turn up.”

Read more: Ricky Gervais calls BBC out for hypocritical treatment of Jo Brand and Danny Baker

With his past shows The Office, Extras and Derek, Gervais has always stuck to a ‘formula’ of two series and a special.

Speaking at the Variety European TV Summit in London, Gervais said: “Throughout my career my laziness has sometimes been mistaken for integrity, which is great. I do get bored easily, I do put all my eggs in one basket, I don’t use a team of writers. Which sort of dictates how many fresh ideas and how long it takes.”

But he admitted he had ideas for new shows that he also wanted to make.

Gervais said: “I’ve got a backlog. I’d rather do eight [different] series before I die, than one. Just as an artist really, it’s fun.”

The David Brent star also revealed he does most of his writing while flying first class between the UK and the US.

Read more: Ricky Gervais: I have no animosity towards stars I make jokes about

He said of his ideal creative environment: “30,000 feet on free champagne. There’s nothing like it.

“I know that I’ve got 6 or 7 hours where I can’t get a phone call or be wound up by an email or go on Twitter and the altitude and champagne - that’s where I work with the sad bits.

“That and running, for the same sort of reasons, the endorphins kick in and there’s no distractions.”