'Rotund' Office star Gervais to build £1million gym in bid to fight the flab

Ricky Gervais who has endured more than a few jokes about his weight, is building an underground gym at his new £3.5million North London home.

The 1,486sqft development in Hampstead, which could cost up to £1million, will include a pool and sauna

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But the detailed plans suggest the comic's health kick may be a little half-hearted.

The development also features a games room -including a golf simulator - which will be larger than the gym area and the pool will be only 24ft by 8ft, meaning he will have to complete at least 50 laps a day if he is serious about losing weight.

Gervais, 45, star of The Office and Extras, has complained about references to his portly figure. He once said: 'I never knew I was fat until I got famous.'