Ricky Gervais will guest star in a new U&Gold series exploring classic British sitcoms. The show, Joe And David’s Magical Sitcom Tour, follows comedians Joe Wilkinson and David Earl as they plan themed days for one another, with each leg drawing on The Office, Porridge or Fawlty Towers.

Gervais, aged 64, will feature in the Office episode and perform the David Brent track Freelove Freeway for Wilkinson and Earl. The Office ran on the BBC from 2001 to 2003 and was co-created by Gervais, who played regional manager David Brent. Its mockumentary format and the US version, which aired from 2005 to 2013, won numerous awards.

Wilkinson, 50, said he has been obsessed with sitcoms since childhood and that scouting locations and memorabilia related to his favourite shows felt like a dream, adding that he would not take a fee for the project. Earl, 51, said he is grateful to UKTV for giving them the chance and compared the series to winning a competition where the prize is stepping through the TV screen into his favourite sitcom worlds, saying he is very happy. The pair will visit filming locations, re-enact moments and hear behind‑the‑scenes tales from cast and crew. Both Wilkinson and Earl previously appeared in Gervais’s Netflix series After Life, and Earl is known for playing Kev in Derek and for a role in Cemetery Junction. Executive producer Peter Holmes described the project as a passion project built on the pair’s love of sitcoms and their friendship. Joe And David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is set to air on U&Gold in 2026.