David Brent is not going yellow

Ricky Gervais, who plays David Brent in hit comedy 'The Office', has turned down a part in The Simpsons.

15:41 03 March 2004

Ricky Gervais, who plays David Brent in hit comedy 'The Office', has turned down a part in The Simpsons.

After big success across the pond - where he recently became the first Brit to win a Golden Globe - the offers have been rolling in Stateside.

Deals include a role on 'The Simpsons' and his own major network show, The Sun has reported.

But the comic said: 'I don't want to pop up as a Mr Brit on every other television programme. I need to go home to where it rains.'

His only TV role in the US is set to be as a bomb maker in the spy show Alias, to be shown in the spring, according to The Sun.

He declined to join famous Brits Tony Blair, Stephen Hawking, JK Rowling and Sir Paul McCartney, in doing a guest spot on The Simpsons - but a spokeswoman for Gervais said he would love to be on the show - but not as David Brent.

'Ricky had lunch with Matt Groening ... and he thinks the Simpsons is the best thing on TV,' she said.

'Matt asked him if he'd like to do a voice and he said hed love to, but definitely not as David Brent. So Matt's gone away to think about what to do.'

The Golden Globe winner said he was more comfortable writing than acting, adding: 'I am going to start work on a new series with ['The Office' co-writer] Steve Merchant and start writing as soon as I can.'