Office Ladies Second Drink: Customer Survey with Stephen Merchant
Apr 27, 2026
Stephen Merchant, writer-director and co-creator of the UK The Office, joins to discuss directing and memories from both versions. He recalls meeting Ricky Gervais, adapting British realism for the U.S. set, and the inspiration behind the Jim-Dwight role-play. They also dig into fake Bluetooths, alternate Pam-Alex scenes, and planting clues with the coffee mug.
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How Stephen Met Ricky Over A Pint
- Stephen Merchant met Ricky Gervais by accepting a radio job and then bonding over pints, music, and comedy which sparked their creative partnership.
- Ricky admitted he didn't know radio; Stephen handled much of the work and their rapport grew from on-air chemistry into co-creating The Office UK.
Authenticity From Real Office Limits
- The British Office aimed for a tired, lived-in realism by shooting in an actual office with slightly dying plants to feel authentic.
- Stephen says that real offices added authenticity but limited camera movement and space, a creative trade-off.
Director Immersed In The Writers Room
- Stephen sat in the American writers' room for weeks before directing and contributed to final rewrites while learning the larger-room dynamic.
- He loved the buzzy US room where ideas pinged around, a new experience compared with the UK two-person writing method.