Ricky Gervais has turned down a part in The Simpsons and a string of big-money US deals because he wants to stay in Britain. The 42-year-old star of The Office was flooded with Hollywood offers after the show won two Golden Globe awards. The deals included The Simpsons role and his own major network show. But Gervais 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 US TV role will be as a bomb maker in the spy show Alias, which will be shown in the spring, says The Sun. He will write and produce the American version of The Office before concentrating on a sitcom about insurance salesmen.
UPDATE: Gervais has denied press reports that he turned down a role in The Simpsons. A spokeswoman for The Office star said Matt Groening had asked Gervais if he wanted to do a voice for the show. “Ricky said he would love to so it might happen, but he won’t be doing it as David Brent,” said the spokeswoman. Read More >>>