Stephen Merchant has mentioned that he and Ricky Gervais lead separate lives despite their successful collaboration on projects like the Office, Extras, and Life’s Too Short. The duo also worked on The Ricky Gervais Show and An Idiot Abroad. However, Stephen revealed that their communication has reduced significantly in recent times.
Explaining the situation, Stephen shared that they both realized they couldn’t surpass the success of the Office and their career paths diverged. While Stephen has ventured into acting in movies such as Gnomeo and Juliet and Fighting With My Family, Ricky has been involved in creating Afterlife and starring in various films, including his latest Netflix special, Mortality.
In an interview with The Times, Stephen mentioned that even when they were closer, they led quite separate lives. He humorously highlighted the age gap between them, indicating different preferences and stages of life.
Currently, Stephen spends most of his time working on scripts and developing his stand-up routines from his London home. He teased about upcoming projects, including an action thriller, a sci-fi project, and a romantic comedy.
Addressing speculations of a fallout, Stephen clarified in a 2022 interview that people tend to assume conflicts when collaborators naturally drift apart. The discussion intensified after Stephen’s social media post, which some interpreted as a jab at Ricky’s work in After Life. However, Stephen clarified that he hadn’t watched the show and dismissed any intentional criticism.
Reflecting on his career trajectory post-The Office success, Stephen admitted to feeling like he was competing with himself. He mentioned casually watching the American version of The Office but hadn’t seen the other international adaptations, drawing a humorous analogy to Noel Gallagher and cover versions of Wonderwall.
During a podcast appearance, Stephen discussed the factors behind their successful partnership, highlighting his focused approach to storytelling mechanics and structure compared to Ricky’s spontaneous comedic brilliance.
Despite their separate paths, Stephen expressed contentment with his level of fame, enjoying recognition for his accomplishments rather than just his towering height.