Gervais wants superstar cameo

Ricky Gervais has said he wants Samuel L Jackson for a cameo role in the pilot of his new TV programme.

14:50 02 April 2004

Ricky Gervais has said he wants Samuel L Jackson for a cameo role in the pilot of his new TV programme.

Currently he is working on a new BBC series, set to be called "Extras", which will be about behind the scenes workers in the entertainment business.

"The fun thing will be the odd cameo. We desperately want Samuel L Jackson for the pilot episode, so if you can put the word out, get Sam to call me," said the comedian.

He added: "Tell him Ricky Gervais wants him. The weather here is bad, we're really badly paid and I make things up as I go along - if he doesn't jump at that, then he's a fool!"

Gervais, speaking to the New York Post, said the new project was being written with his partner from "The Office" Stephen Merchant.

He commented: "We want to get it out in the summer again, like we did with The Office. I want to limp in again, I don't want any fanfare, I want to start as the underdog again.

"We'd like to come out in the summer, at 9.30 on BBC2 and let people find it. Most people who have a cult hit go large and try to go mainstream - I want to put people off!"

He said the new series will not be broadcast for at least a year.