Stephen Merchant - Biography

In a nutshell

Stephen Merchant is somewhat of a comedy genius, although you wouldn't really know it because Ricky Gervais has taken most of the available limelight. But this guy seems lovely ? and we know this because we saw him eating breakfast in a caf? once. So there.

Merchant was a bit of a shy child (as he's explained on his XFM show), being brought up in Bristol. He started his career on the local radio station Radio Warwick, reviewing films and generally being a little bit funny. He actually graduated with a 1st in Film and Literature in 1996.

Stephen, alongside his partner in crime (comedy crime we mean, not real crime. That'd just be wrong) Ricky Gervais made a comedy pilot for Channel 4 and, although it wasn't a success, led them to XFM ? a radio station in London. Stephen moved to the BBC to take part in a production course.

The biggest hit for Stephen was the show he co-wrote, The Office, which was first broadcast on the BBC in 2001. He also made a move back to XFM with Ricky Gervais to front a new show. Extras came along in 2005.

Stephen has his own show on BBC 6 Music, the digital radio station.

Did you know?