The Office at 25: Freeman, Crook Reunite for BBC Doc
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- Martin Freeman originally auditioned for the role of Gareth before being cast as Tim Canterbury, and he and Mackenzie Crook are now reuniting to present a BBC documentary for the 25th anniversary.
- Ricky Gervais is releasing a retrospective special on his YouTube channel alongside the BBC documentary, adding to the commemorations.
- The first series of The Office received the lowest ever BBC focus group score — joint bottom with rained-off women's bowls — and nearly wasn't recommissioned before reruns doubled its viewing figures.
- Germany's ProSieben network faced legal threats from the BBC in 2004 over its comedy Stromberg, ultimately reaching an agreement that gave Gervais and Merchant an "inspired by" credit.
- The Office has been remade in 16 territories, with the Canadian French-language version naming its boss character David Gervais in homage to Ricky.
- Stephen Merchant's father Ron plays the mute, motionless staring janitor in the show — cast because Merchant Jr. said "we thought he had a funny face."
- The show's theme song was nearly Cat Stevens' "Sitting" before settling on Big George's version of 1960s blue-eyed soul tune "Handbags and Gladrags," after also considering Supertramp's The Logical Song.
Why it matters: The reunion marks a quarter-century milestone for a show that nearly died on arrival — its first series drew the lowest BBC focus group score ever recorded, and only reruns saved it from cancellation. With 16 international remakes and a 2004 BBC legal threat against Germany's Stromberg producing an "inspired by" credit, The Office's commercial and legal footprint spans continents 25 years on.
