It's good Ricky and I don't do the same thing

Bestselling author Jane Fallon on personal ambition, being an introvert and not competing with her famous comedian partner

- By Karen Rockett

AS THE long-term love of Britain’s richest comedian, it would be all too easy for Jane Fallon to look fabulous on the red carpet from time to time and simply sit back and enjoy the trappings of his fame and fortune.

But that’s never been the style of the award-winning TV producer-turned-bestselling author. In fact Jane is busier than ever, having this week published her 14th novel, Welcome to the Neighbourhood.

The 65-year-old has always been a grafter, and built two hugely successful careers long before partner Ricky Gervais, 64, hit the big time with comedy series The Office in 2001.

With his reported £130million fortune built from various Netflix deals, live tours, drinks adverts and a property portfolio, Jane need never type another word again. So why does she?

“Oh I couldn't give up writing, I don’t know what I would do with myself,” she tells me. “It’s how I see myself and it is what I always wanted to do.

“Besides, I still haven’t had a Nol bestseller yet — only on e-book, not a real book —so I still have that to aim for.”

Her hugely popular 2006 novel, Getting Rid of Matthew, is finally being made into a movie — starring Heather Graham — with filming starting this spring.

Jane, who started dating Gervais more than 40 years ago, says: “My books do often get optioned for film or TV and then something happens and it all falls apart, so I have learned not to get my hopes up.

“But this time it is looking really promising and I am really excited about it, although I’m not allowed to talk too much about it.”

Her books make ideal TV or film adaptations because, having honed her writing skills as a scriptwriter on EastEnders, Jane is the mistress of the cliffhanger.

“I was at EastEnders during the time of the Phil and Grant Mitchell and Sharon love triangle, and when Frank Butcher left Pat and when David Wicks discovered he was Bianca’s dad,” she says.