'Life's Too Short' BBC Pilot

23rd April 2010

The BBC has today officially announced my new sitcom pilot, 'Life's Too Short'.

To be written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the new comedy for BBC Two is set to star yours truly.

The BBC describes the show as "an observation comedy which follows Warwick's day-to-day life in a small world where big things happen. It's a frustrating world, but an optimistic and warm one. This is a comedy where truth and big laughs sit side by side."

Gervais and Merchant, who shot to comedy fame after creating The Office and Extras, are currently working on the project. Gervais said: "We're having so much fun working with Warwick. Pound for pound he is one of the funniest men I know."

I met Ricky and Stephen in 2006 when I filmed a cameo in Extras. The episode, from Series 2 of the comedy, revolved around Gervais' character Andy Millman gaining a small bit part in a new fantasy film which starred Daniel Radcliffe and myself (we played ourselves). Andy ended up getting into a fight with me, accidently knocking me unconscious in the process.

Controller of BBC Two Janice Hadlow says: "I'm very excited to see the return of Ricky and Stephen to BBC Two, but also to welcome Warwick Davis, a great talent, to the channel. Experimenting with innovative, broad appeal comedy projects are an important part of BBC Two's plans for the future."

The pilot will be overseen by Charlie Hanson, who previously produced Extras with Gervais and Merchant, and has acted as Executive Producer on their new film, Cemetery Junction.

The BBC has been moved to announce this new pilot now, as Gervais has talked about the project in an interview for next week's Radio Times. He told the magazine, "It's about his life: the life of a showbiz dwarf. He plays himself, we play ourselves, it's sort of like Curb Your Enthusiasm."