Born in Reading in the early sixties, Ricky Gervais made it to university in London and a degree in philosophy. After a brief career in a pop band he dallied with odd jobs to make ends meet before running the entertainments at a students' union. Then, with Stephen Merchant, Ricky developed the mockumentary, The Office. Twelve episodes and a two-part Christmas special later, The Office is consigned to broadcasting history as one of the most perfectly crafted comedy series in British TV ever. Showered with awards and critical acclaim, the series' antihero David Brent became a household name and so, of course, did Ricky. Ricky has accumulated a multitude of awards and honours through his career, including seven BAFTA Awards, four British Comedy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two Emmy Awards and the 2006 Rose d'Or, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Meanwhile, in the publishing world, Ricky was busy with the conception of the hugely succesful Flanimals series, now brought to life in a fabulous pop-up. While aimed at younger readers, the richness of the illustrations and the inventiveness of the text give it universal appeal. Rob Steen is best known for his collaboration with Ricky Gervais to create the Flanimals. He lives in New York, and so plays host to Ricky Gervais when he is over there. Steen has recently published a comic book called Afterlife, full of yet more foreboding and sinister characters.
