The British comedy series The Office is one of our times most successful, maybe the most popular of all time. The provision company McCain arranged a voting competition about which comedy series was the funniest of all time and guess which won. Yes, The Office. In front of for example The Simpsons and Friends. The brilliant comedy has also won prices at the glamorous Golden Globe awards. In 2004 the show won an award for the best comedy and Ricky Gervais who plays one of the main characters David Brent won an award for best comedy actor. So, what is it really?

The Office is a British television comedy series written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The first episode was aired in the UK the on 9th. July, 2001. It was a success right from the beginning. After a couple of years there are remakes in America, Germany and France. In French it's called Le bureau and in German the remake is called Stromberg. It also has been broadcasted in over 80 countries and in Brazil there has been a production called Os Aspones very much based on The Office. It has been showed in a lot of places around the world and pretty much praised everywhere.

In the Office Slough in England, a bit outside London. It's there everything takes place. The series has four very different main characters that you get to follow through 14 episodes. They all work at the paper company Wernham Hogg. David Brent, played by Ricky Gervais: The boss from hell. He's the general manager of Wernham Hogg. Considers himself being the best person in the world. Tells great jokes and everybody loves him. Not. Tells stupid jokes and often gets into trouble by talking before thinking. Thinks that he is very talented in philosophy, music and comedy. He often points out that he rather sees himself being a comic man than a boring boss. David Brent very much wants to show that he's a politically correct man, but often displays the opposite. Likes to ask other people how old they think he is. Likes them to say in his 30s but is in his 40s. You can't stop laughing at this man. Tim Canterbury, played by Martin Freeman: A 30-year-old sales representative at Wernham Hogg who loves to play practical jokes on his office nemesis Gareth Keenan. Still lives with his parents and would like to get a psychology degree in the near future. Doesn't like his work but has learned to like the other employees. And especially the office assistant Dawn Tinsley that he is falling in love with. A very ironic person who finds his job at the paper company very boring.

Gareth Keenan, played by Mackenzie Crook: Gareth is a man in his 30s who works as a paper salesman at Wernham Hogg. A proud member of the territorial army and often gives everyone at the office a reminder about that. Annoying all the co workers with his steadfast enforcement of the rules and sucking up big time to the boss. He takes the job very seriously and hopes to become something in the paper industry. At least you get that feeling. Has a love-hate relationship to Tim. Many good things has come out of this mouth. This is just one of many great quotes. "He threw a kettle over a pub. What have you done?"

Dawn Tinsley, played by Lucy Davis: Dawn is a kind and good-hearted woman who works as the receptionist at Wernham Hogg. Engaged to warehouse worker Lee. A boring and controlling man without a sense of humour. She wants to be a children's book illustrator but Lee puts a stop to that. Often plays pranks on Gareth with Tim. Both Tim and Dawn are feeling an attraction for each other. Moves to Florida with Lee in the end of series two but returns in the Christmas special. At the Christmas party Tim and Dawn finally find each other.

The end   The last episode of The Office, the Christmas special, was first aired in 2003. There were two parts, each 45 minutes and these episodes were the definitive end of the series. On the official website at BBC Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais answer the question why it all ended. And they just say that the ideas had run out. - We've said all we can about these characters and their world. If we carried on we'd be repeating ourselves, is the answer that Stephen and Ricky give to the fans.. Maybe that's the special about this sitcom. Instead of producing season after season like for example Friends they've finished it all when the fans wanted more. You didn't get the chance to get bored out of Brent, Gareth, the others and the jokes. This is one of many reasons why The Office always will be remembered as one of the best comedy series ever made.

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