The Ricky Gervais Show poster

TV series

The Ricky Gervais Show

2010TV-MA3 seasons7.2 / 10

The Ricky Gervais Show is an American cartoon series produced for and broadcast by HBO and Channel 4. The series is an animated version of the popular British audio podcasts and audiobooks of the same name, which feature Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, along with colleague and friend Karl Pilkington, talking about various subjects behind the microphone. The TV show consists of past audio recordings of these unscripted "pointless conversations," with animation drawn in a style similar to classic era Hanna-Barbera cartoons, presenting jokes and situations in a literal context. The animated Ricky Gervais Show has aired 39 episodes across three seasons since it premiered in 2010. There were some plans for a possible fourth season which would have used newly recorded audio, but this was shelved in June 2012. Series 3 of The Ricky Gervais Show premiered on 20 April 2012 on HBO, and on 8 May 2012 on E4.

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Availability

Not streaming in United States

The Ricky Gervais Show premiered February 19, 2010. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

The Ricky Gervais Show is an American cartoon series produced for and broadcast by HBO and Channel 4. The series is an animated version of the popular British audio podcasts and audiobooks of the same name, which feature Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, along with colleague and friend Karl Pilkington, talking about various subjects behind the microphone. The TV show consists of past audio recordings of these unscripted "pointless conversations," with animation drawn in a style similar to classic era Hanna-Barbera cartoons, presenting jokes and situations in a literal context. The animated Ricky Gervais Show has aired 39 episodes across three seasons since it premiered in 2010. There were some plans for a possible fourth season which would have used newly recorded audio, but this was shelved in June 2012. Series 3 of The Ricky Gervais Show premiered on 20 April 2012 on HBO, and on 8 May 2012 on E4.

Cast, crew and production details

About The Ricky Gervais Show

Cast

Stephen MerchantSelf
Ricky GervaisSelf
Karl PilkingtonSelf

Credits

Created by
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
39
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • HBOUnited States
  • Wildbrain EntertainmentUnited States
  • MRCUnited States
  • HBOUnited States

Season 2 episodes

Watch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.

← Season 1

Episode 1

Clive Warren

30m8.8 / 10

Karl tells Ricky and Stephen about his pitch of a movie starring "Clive Warren" and Rebecca De Mornay. Stephen reads more pages from Karl's diary, revealing Karl's dislike of camping in Australia and his habit of saving insects from falling into a swimming pool.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 2

Doppleganger

30m8.7 / 10

Karl discusses what his doppelganger would be like. Ricky gives Karl a riddle. Karl and Stephen say what they do not like about Ricky's cat. Stephen discusses his holiday in Rio, where he went for Carnival.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 4

Onion

30m9.0 / 10

Ricky gives Karl some animal facts. Karl ponders the question of whether you control your brain, or your brain controls you. From Karl's diary we investigate the curious case of the invisible Chinese man, why blind people have affairs, the feasibility and usefulness of putting a mirror on the Moon, and birthdays.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 5

Insects

30m8.7 / 10

Karl shares his thoughts on why insects are so deserving of his attention. Karl talks about his disappointment when learning about a killer octopus; what he would change in crabs; more stuff about insects. Karl's diary is also mostly about insects.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 6

Kidneys

30m8.7 / 10

Karl talks about having been rushed to hospital. He says that kidney stones were found and he had a catheter put into his penis. Karl ponders a phenomenon; Karl's diary; and more.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 7

Night Club

30m8.7 / 10

Karl ponders height extremes when he learns that one of his new fans is actor Warwick Davis. Stephen talks about a night when he and his friends visited a nightclub in London. The bouncer refused them entry due to them not having any girls with them. Karl's diary is about his hospital visit for his kidney and a TV documentary in which he believes a monkey acted as a toll taker on a bridge.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 8

Future

30m8.7 / 10

Karl makes several predictions about humanity's distant future, including his belief that everyone will be ugly, that we will be physically weaker, the little finger will cease to exist, trousers will cease to be produced and we will blend all of our food. Stephen says that if he knew it were the last day of Earth's existence, he would smash up a bar and kill a person. Karl says that he would kick a duck up the arse.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 9

Natural History

30m8.7 / 10

Ricky talks about undiscovered species. He talks about a drawing he did when he was in his early teens of an animal which consisted of a lion's head, a gorilla's arms, the body of a rhinoceros, the tail of a scorpion and the legs of a cheetah. Karl says that his design for an animal would consist of the head of an owl, an armadillo's body on a slug base and with peacock feathers. Karl talks about having met a man who had drawn a design for a car which enabled defecating while driving. Karl says his father had a friend who kept a monkey as his pet.

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Episode 10

Leg Rubber

30m8.7 / 10

Karl discusses his childhood memories of having thousands of Tic Tacs in his house, given to his father by a friend. Karl tells of his visit to a "professional leg rubber", who tells Karl ridiculous things and charges £48 for half an hour. Karl talks about his visit to a Harley Street doctor's surgery for a medical. In the waiting room, he was surprised to find Boyz among the magazines. He looked through it, thinking it might enlighten him about the appeal of homosexual sex.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 11

Mrs. Battersby

30m8.7 / 10

Karl talks about the brain having two sides and "sensing" when trouble is near. He recounts having eaten a beetle, having been lost in London and having talked to a ghost in Cornwall. Karl then reveals that the ghost encounter was something his mother told him, rather than a personal memory of his. He talks about his aunt not wanting double glazing. He says that if he was a manager, he would sack staff who were absent due to thick snow impeding their route to work. Karl's Diary includes his belief that Martians are more advanced than us because their days are longer, allowing for greater productivity. Another of his diary entries is about a pub whose new owners have been criticised for barring a regular customer, who is a horse.

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Episode 12

Art

30m8.7 / 10

The trio discuss art, including Marcel Duchamp's Fountain and Damien Hirst's The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living as well as sculptures. Karl talks about a tricycle-riding fat woman nicknamed Miss Piggy who lived on the same estate as him.Ricky says that adaptations of literature and film can be improved by featuring the Muppets. Karl says that his favourite films are The Elephant Man, Kes and Mission: Impossible 2. Karl talks about his fondness of whistling, and Ricky says that he finds it annoying.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode 13

Munchies

30m8.7 / 10Finale

Ricky asks Karl if he would give up his real life to live in a virtual reality isolation tank. Karl discusses his thoughts about problems, holidays and happiness. Whilst recounting having met an older man on holiday, Karl finally laughs.

Where to watch The Ricky Gervais Show

Episode information updated Jul 22, 2026