Kate Winslet on Oscars
Winslet explains the shortcut to an Academy Award.
Sitcom File No. 004
BBC Two · 2005–2007
Extras
- Network
- BBC Two
- Years
- 2005–2007
- Seasons
- 2
- Episodes
- 13
Gervais and Merchant's follow-up to The Office, a series about a background actor climbing greasy poles and the celebrities who guest-star as horrible versions of themselves.
ShowbizCringeEnsemble
Created by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
The Review
Our verdict
Rating
8.6/10
Extras traded the mockumentary format for a more traditional single-camera sitcom, but kept the cringe. Its stroke of genius was the guest cast: Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe and others gamely playing pitch-black caricatures of themselves.
The 2007 finale, in which Andy Millman finally has his big-brother-of-the-industry meltdown on live television, is one of the great sitcom endings.
Cast & Creators
Who made this one
Names linked to their Laughter File are part of the archive. Follow the thread.
Ricky Gervais
Andy Millman
View Laughter File →
- A
Ashley Jensen
Maggie Jacobs
- S
Stephen Merchant
Darren Lamb
Memorable Episodes
Episodes to revisit
- 01
Kate WinsletS1 · E1
The first extras job: a nun and a holocaust film.
- 02
Sir Ian McKellenS2 · E2
A masterclass in acting, wrestling, and the word 'honest'.
- 03
The Extra Special Series FinaleS2 · E7
Andy's Big Brother breakdown and the real cost of fame.
Classic Clips
Four scenes to revisit
Patrick Stewart's Screenplay
Sir Patrick pitches Andy the strangest script ever.
Andy's Big Brother Meltdown
The finale monologue that skewered celebrity culture.
Les Dennis in Panto
The most painful dressing-room scene ever committed to tape.
Where to watch
Available on BritBox and BBC iPlayer.