Ricky Gervais has called for celebrities to be banned from 2021's New Year Honours List. The comedian, 56, said only NHS heroes and ...
Ricky Gervais has called for celebrities to be banned from 2021's New Year Honours List.
The comedian, 56, said only NHS heroes and frontline workers should instead be rewarded for their bravery during the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the Christian O'Connell show in Australia, the After Life star said: 'I never want anyone to complain about the NHS again, or nurses or doctors or anyone on the front line. We've got to remember we clapped for them and that should always be there.
Speaking out: Ricky Gervais has called for celebrities to be banned from the next New Year Honours List
'The New Year's Honours list should not go to celebrities this year. It should go to those people.'
The funnyman also took aim at fashion designers and beauty gurus, saying they are not worthy of the esteemed honours.
He said: 'Give it to someone who gave a kidney to a stranger, not someone who invented a new type of mascara.
'I've seen people given a knighthood for services to fashion. What are you talking about, services to fashion?
Heroes: The comedian, 56, said only NHS and frontline workers should instead be rewarded for their bravery during the coronavirus pandemic
'Christ, it's not that hard. People are finding cures for cancer and AIDs.'
Gervais also took a swipe at reality stars who are desperately seeking fame to make themselves happy, and said it was 'bordering on mental illness'.
He continued: 'We all want to be happy. We don't know how to do it. Sometimes we're sold bad advice.
Happy: Ricky lives with his partner Jane Fallon, 59, in a luxury £11 million home in Hampstead (pictured at the Golden Globes in January 2020)
'People think fame can make them happy. Then they're like, why am I not happy? People don't realise having worth is a huge thing to tick off before you can feel happy. And fame's not the place for it.
'I see these reality shows they go on and they're bordering on mental illness in a way. People think, "oh if I could just be loved and accepted by strangers I'd be happy", no... that's not true either.
'You've got to learn to love yourself.'
Gervais has been critical of celebrities throughout the pandemic for moaning about the situation from their mansions.
Unimpressed: Sam drew criticism for looking upset on an Instagram post as they self-isolated in their £12million mansion and captioned the snaps: 'stages of a quarantine meltdown'
The star publicly ridiculed stars such as Sam Smith, 27, who caused a furore when he broke down in tears on Instagram from self-isolation in his £12 million home.
The comments come after reports that Gervais was offered £5 million to write a third series of After Life.
It is thought that the actor, who confirmed series three last week, is due to meet network bosses next month to tie down the seven-figure deal.
But along with a third instalment of the popular show, he will also be expected to write a number of standalone comedy specials, according to reports.
An insider told The Sun: 'After Life smashed expectations again with the second series and Netflix wanted to tie Ricky down with a big money deal.
Success: It was recently claimed that he's been offered more than £5million to the third season of Netflix's After Life (pictured on the series)
'They basically approached him with a blank cheque and after bashing out the finer details he will receive just over £5million for the third After Life.
'As part of the wider deal Ricky will also pen a couple of comedy shows and skits for Netflix.'
The next series of After Life had been earmarked to air by Spring 2021 but filming could be delayed due to the coronavirus epidemic.
A representative for Ricky was contacted for comment at the time of publication.
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