Ricky swaps Office for politics

Ricky Gervais may snub the BBC by offering his new show to ITV or Channel 4, he has revealed.

The Office star is set to follow up his award-winning David Brent role with that of a loud-mouthed political comic.

The as yet unnamed character will rant about world affairs despite knowing little of them.

His quips include: 'Nelson Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island was a success because he hasn't re-offended.'

But the 42-year-old admitted to a Sunday newspaper: 'For TV it will probably be best for a commercial channel and not the BBC, I think.'

Commercial channels are less constrained than the BBC and have a tradition of broadcasting such cutting edge shows as Spitting Image and The New Statesman.

Gervais's new project is entitled Politics and his new role will debut in stand-up venues next month. He has also filmed 25 hours of material for a TV pilot.