Ricky Gervais blasts fame hungry 'idiots'

Ricky Gervais has blasted those who are desperate to be famous as “idiots”.

Gervais, 54, said talent is being belittled by those who are willing to do anything to find fame – even if it shows them in a bad light.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the release of his Netflix film Special Correspondents – which parodies fame – he said: “Nowadays there’s no difference between fame and infamy.

“People would rather be known as an absolute idiot than not known at all. There’s people now that live their life like an open wound and they are rewarded for it.”

Speaking about Vera Farmiga – who plays his onscreen wife in search of a record deal in the film – he continued: “Vera’s character is the personification of what is wrong with society today. She thinks she deserves to be famous.

“We see these talent shows where people say, ‘Oh we really want a record deal'. And we say ‘OK, we’ll vote for you then!’ I don’t care! It’s just all singers! We’re going to run out of doctors because everyone wants to be on a talent show.”

Gervais this week released the second trailer for the film which follows sound technician Albert Finch (Gervais) and radio journalist Frank Bonneville (Eric Bana) as they file fake war reports from above a Spanish restaurant in New York while pretending to be on the front line in Ecuador.

Special Correspondents will be streamed exclusively on Netflix from April 29.

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