Ricky Gervais to Star in ‘The Office’ Special, Marking Show’s 25th Anniversary

The original British version of The Office marks its 25th anniversary on Thursday, July 9, and its co-creator, Ricky Gervais, is celebrating the occasion with a new YouTube special.

Gervais, who wrote the hit sitcom with Stephen Merchant and starred as cringe-inducing boss David Brent, will reveal his “personal selection of 25 standout David Brent moments from the show that catapulted his career” on his YouTube channel on Wednesday (July 8).

“Stripped back, no frills and intentionally understated, each moment is presented by Gervais himself, with the stories and context that only he can provide,” reads the official synopsis.

Fans will be treated to “exclusive and never-before-told stories including inspiration behind iconic lines, scenes that nearly couldn’t be filmed due to uncontrollable laughter on set, and Ricky’s personal insight into the mind of one of the most legendary characters in British comedy history.”

The Office went from cult favorite to one of the most beloved sitcoms of all-time following the two seasons and Christmas special that aired on the BBC in the early 2000s. The show helped launch the career of Gervais and many of his co-stars, including Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook.

Its success also led to versions around the world, including in the U.S., where the show ran for nine seasons on NBC. Starring Steve Carell in the Gervais role as the attention-seeking paper company boss, The Office U.S. helped launch the careers of Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer.

Gervais has been steadily building his YouTube channel over the past few months through regular Sunday live streams. “I’m absolutely loving building my YouTube channel,” he said in a statement. “It’s the best way to interact with my wonderful fans without leaving the house and actually bumping into any of those weirdos.”

In addition to the upcoming Office special, the former Golden Globes host will also be uploading archive footage from many of his other shows, including the Netflix series After Life and his stand-up specials.

The BBC will also mark the 25th anniversary of The Office as part of its Remembers retrospective series. Remember… The Office will premiere on Wednesday in the U.K., and it will reunite Freeman and Crook as they look back at the sitcom that made them famous.