The Office
Life at Wernham Hogg
The Office is a British mockumentary sitcom created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first broadcast on BBC Two in 2001. Filmed as a fly-on-the-wall documentary, it follows the staff of the Slough branch of paper merchant Wernham Hogg, led by cringe-inducing, attention-seeking general manager David Brent. Around him, sales rep Tim and receptionist Dawn share a slow-burning, unspoken romance, while self-important "Team Leader" Gareth provides a constant foil. Running for just two six-episode series and a two-part 2003 Christmas special, it won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy three years running and became the first British sitcom to win a Golden Globe.
Start a quizAt a glance
- First aired
- 9 July 2001
- Last aired
- 27 December 2003
- Created by
- Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
- Channel
- BBC Two, then BBC One
- Series
- 2
- Episodes
- 14
- Set in
- Slough, Berkshire
- Quizzes
- 3
The Office quizzes
How well do you know David Brent and the staff of Wernham Hogg? Prove it.
Do you really know the staff of Wernham Hogg? A tricky round on Brent, Gareth, Finchy and the rest.
From the Red Nose Day dance to the Christmas special, how well do you know the plots and moments?
The Office cast and characters
David Brent
Played by Ricky Gervais
The general manager of Wernham Hogg in Slough, who sees himself as a friend first, a boss second and an entertainer. His desperate need to be liked produces some of the most excruciating scenes in British comedy.
Tim Canterbury
Played by Martin Freeman
A bored sales rep who is 30, still lives with his parents and gets through the day by winding up Gareth. His quiet feelings for Dawn are the heart of the show.
Gareth Keenan
Played by Mackenzie Crook
Brent's humourless, self-important 'Team Leader' and a former Territorial Army man, forever the target of Tim's pranks. He takes over the branch after Brent loses his job.
Dawn Tinsley
Played by Lucy Davis
The receptionist, stuck in a dead-end engagement to warehouse worker Lee after giving up her dream of illustrating children's books. Her will-they-won't-they friendship with Tim runs through both series and the Christmas special.
Neil Godwin
Played by Patrick Baladi
The smooth, capable manager of the Swindon branch, who becomes Brent's boss when the two offices merge in series two. He is younger, better liked and far better at the job than Brent.
Chris 'Finchy' Finch
Played by Ralph Ineson
A loud, bullying sales rep whom Brent calls his best friend, despite being mocked by him at every turn. Brent finally stands up to him in the Christmas special.
Keith Bishop
Played by Ewen MacIntosh
The deadpan man from accounts, who rarely speaks and is utterly indifferent to his job. When he does talk, his remarks tend to be cutting or unsettling.
Lee
Played by Joel Beckett
Dawn's dull, controlling fiancé, who works in the Wernham Hogg warehouse and dismisses her ambitions. His idea of a romantic proposal was a four-word notice in the paper.
The Office facts and FAQs
- When was The Office UK first shown?
- The Office was first shown on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. The second series followed from 30 September 2002, and the story ended with a two-part Christmas special on BBC One on 26 and 27 December 2003.
- How many series (seasons) and episodes of The Office UK are there?
- There are two series of The Office and 14 episodes in total: two series of six episodes plus the two-part Christmas special from 2003. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant chose to stop there rather than make a third series.
- Is The Office UK the original?
- Yes, the British Office (2001-03) is the original, and the American version is a remake. The US series starring Steve Carell as Michael Scott ran on NBC from 2005 to 2013, with Gervais and Merchant as executive producers.
- Who created and wrote The Office?
- The Office was created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and Gervais also starred as David Brent. It grew out of Seedy Boss, a short film the pair made in 1998 as part of Merchant's BBC producer training.
- Where was The Office UK filmed?
- The Office was filmed at Teddington Studios in south-west London, in a real office used by the studio's own staff rather than on a built set. Only the opening titles were shot in Slough, where the show is set, around Crossbow House on the Slough Trading Estate, which has since been demolished.
- What is The Office about?
- The Office is a British mockumentary sitcom about the staff of the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg, a paper merchant, filmed as if by a documentary crew. It follows deluded manager David Brent, the office romance between Tim and Dawn, and the constant threat of redundancies.
- What company do they work for in The Office UK?
- The characters in The Office work for Wernham Hogg, a fictional paper merchant, at its branch on the Slough Trading Estate. In series two the Slough office is merged with the Swindon branch, bringing in Neil Godwin as Brent's boss.
- Who is in the cast of The Office UK?
- The British Office stars Ricky Gervais as David Brent, Martin Freeman as Tim Canterbury, Mackenzie Crook as Gareth Keenan and Lucy Davis as Dawn Tinsley. Patrick Baladi (Neil), Ralph Ineson (Finchy), Ewen MacIntosh (Keith) and Joel Beckett (Lee) complete the regular cast.
Awards and recognition
BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy (2002, 2003 and 2004)
First British comedy to win a Golden Globe: Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy (2004)
Golden Globe for Best Actor for Ricky Gervais (2004)
British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy (2002)