Ricky:After Life goes on...for a bit longer

SUPRISE HIT BLACK (COMEDY BACK FOR THIRD SERIES BUT THAT'S IT...

- Julia Kuttner

AS the final series of After Life lands on Netflix this week, Ricky Gervais reveals comedians are "obsessed with death".

While most people would never associate the passing of a loved one with fits of giggles, acerbic Ricky's straight-talking style has won him legions of fans and made After Life the most-watched British comedy of the decade, with nearly 100 million streaming the show.

He says: "In my stand-up I deal with the big subjects. It's fine to deal with taboo or grave subjects.

"Comedians obsessed with death I think, because we know there's a discomfort about it, so that's where the money could be - and comedy as well.

"It will all come to us. We can second guess as creators: 'Can they handle this?' Of course - real life's worse!" Given the turmoil during the pandemic, escapism of any kind has been welcomed.