For those out of the know, Ricky and Steve - two men who together created, wrote, shot and acted both The Office and Extras, had, until 2005, a radio show on London station XFMm produced by a little mac twat named 'Karl Pillockton'. These shows were shoddily produced but bursting at the seems with witty banter between the three. Ricky Gervais, Stephen 'S'Merch' Merchant, and Karl 'the K man' Pilkington. They were honestly a match made in heaven.
These XFM shows - available for free download here - saw great success and continued to be hugely popular, until, after four series', they ended. Soon after this, Ricky Steve and Karl developed their success, exploring the new media of Podcasting in 2005 - 2006, reaching an expanded worldwide audience and gaining millions of listeners worldwide. Steve later noted that he felt the three 'singlehandedly began the podcasting revolution' - certainly a fair point. However, many argued that the podcasts were inferior to XFM. Karl seemed to sound increasingly grumpy, and many of the stories told on the podcasts were ones recycled from the days of XFM. After 3 Series of Podcasting, and 3 free bonus episodes - 'The Podfather Trilogy' - the three decided to call an indefinate end.
For months little was heard of Karl and co, but seemingly out of nowhere, a free full length podcast was released that seemed to see Karl at back to his best - discussing a maniac brain-swapping lesbian film that he had talked to producers about making. This podcast offered a glimpse of hope for fans that perhaps all was not over yet, and earlier this year Gervais staretd a blog - http://www.rickygervais.com/chimpanzee_karl.php - to convince Karl to make a new series of podcasts. Alls seemed well, and Karl even agreed, recently, to do a podcast - Podcast.....one final show possibly in June. - but earlier today the news was given via Ricky's blog that this was not to be.
'The End
I am sorry to say I have failed.
Karl has decided he doesn't want to do another show. Well he doesn't want to do it for free.
He says he has bills to pay. I offered to pay him myself but he wouldn't accept that either.
I think that made him feel a bit stupid. I shouldn't really have offered but I so wanted to do another one.
I then tried to get him to do it as a favour but then he said no altogether.
The whole thing annoyed him so much that he said he wouldn't enjoy doing it now. Maybe he's tired of playing the fool. I was surprised he wouldn't do this for me but it's up to him.
This will be the last blog entry. I will leave this up for a few days then remove it all together.
I suggest for Karl's sake you end the campaign too. I think you all did marvelously and I know you did so with nothing but affection and hope. You'll always have him the way he was on the old podcasts and I'm sure it's not the last you'll see of Karl (I don't know whether he'll talk to me again though)
Thank you all so much for listening over the past few years.
It has been my absolute pleasure.'
Many people see Rick as an cocky, arrogant and annoying comedian, and i must admit that for years, despite loving The Office, I thought the same. But these podcasts really were something brilliant, and this most sincere final post, that seems to suggest that Rick and KP have really had a fall out, almost brings a tear to the eye.
So long, you manc, orange headed gimp. You will be missed.
Steve Merchant's BBC6 Radio show remains on air, sundays 3pm-5pm
