Ricky Gervais is working on his most close-to-the-bone show yet in a battle against the woke, cancel culture generation
RICKY GERVAIS has never been one to bite his tongue but now he is poised to battle against woke cancel culture with his most controversial show yet.
Bizarre was there for the comic’s stand up comeback on Wednesday evening, in front of a small audience in central Lo-don, where he tried out material for his next tour.
But anyone hoping the joker will have toned his act down in light of other top comics being cancelled is going to be disappointed.
Ricky made a series of brilliant gags calling out modern ideals as nonsense, alongside near-the-knuckle quips about punching children and rehabilitating paedophiles.
The explicit, secret set at the Leicester Square Theatre was his best in years.
He told the audience: “The new show is going to be called Armageddon and it’s going to be about how I think humanity will end — whether we will evolve, go to another planet, or we destroy it with things at our disposal.
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“People born this century are going to have a very different middle age to me.
“It’s my fault and the generation before me, the Boomers — with fossil fuels, deforestation, causing global warming, everything like that.
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“So, 20-year-olds today, in 40 years’ time they’ll be huddled in their houses like prisons, wearing masks, afraid, in pain, crying . . . like they do now over jokes. I am going to spend all of my money on private jets from now on, to make sure it definitely f***ing happens.”
Doubling down on how ridiculous people have become with their virtue- signalling, he told another side-splitting tale. Delivered in a very tongue-in-cheek manner, Ricky said: “I am trying to be more woke. For example, I love illegal immigrants. Sue me.
“Sometimes I just go down to Dover and I see a f***ing dinghy with 60 of them on and I go, ‘Come on, welcome! Women and children first. Oh, there are no women — just you lads, is it?’”
Ricky has long been one of the funniest blokes in comedy and I’m glad he is sticking by his craft and not bowing to pressure to conform.
The runaway success of his Netflix hit series After Life shows that he understands the nuances of comedy, while still having a heart.
So, while I’m sure people will be quick to try to cancel him yet again over his gags, Ricky clearly knows what he is doing. And with that in mind, any criticism will rightfully, to Ricky, be like water off a duck’s back.
VICK UP AFTER FILM HICCUP
VICK HOPE stole the show on Wednesday night as she compered a special screening of Jake Gyllenhaal‘s new film Ambulance.
The Radio 1 host looked sensational as she posed on the blue carpet in Leicester Square, but she had her work cut out once inside.
Vick was left to think on her feet after film director Michael Bay halted the screening five minutes after it started because he had an interview to do and didn’t want to miss the flick – even though, as the man behind the camera, he must have already seen it countless times.
That left the premiere’s guests including Jake, Megan Barton-Hanson and Megan McKenna twiddling their thumbs.
Returning to the stage as the lights came on, Vick joked: “That’s what we call whetting your appetite. As it’s a lovely sunny day and everyone is in a good mood, we thought we would leave it there for today.”
Awkward.
A musical bond with Ukraine
HE has composed scores for 150 films and during his live show, Hans Zimmer and his incredible orchestra showcased some of his best.
From The Dark Knight and Dune, to Gladiator and The Lion King, the German composer had the sold-out venue rapt from start to finish.
It’s only the third time Hans has ever toured and, after two sell-out nights in the capital, he played Manchester Arena last night. What made the occasion even more poignant was that the band he had booked for the tour, which had been pushed back from 2021, were all from Odessa in Ukraine.
Talking to the audience, Hans revealed they had managed to get ten of the orchestra out of Ukraine when the war with Russia began, and that they were now playing with them on the tour.
Hans said: “858 days ago we booked our orchestra from Odessa in Ukraine. Then the piece of s**t happened, and so we managed to get ten people out, and they are here tonight.
“Please make them feel at home, make them feel welcome. I don’t want this to be a downer, I want this to be great. I want this to be something that brings us all together.
“I was going to do a long speech about these fantastic women from Ukraine who had to leave their husbands behind to fight for their homes. But the way I can do it is to play you Wonder Woman.”
His speech got the first of many standing ovations on the night and each was richly deserved. This show proved he is a true musical genius.
HANS ZIMMER @ LONDON’S O2 ARENA
★★★★★
- ELLIE HENMAN
Bree’s knees
HATS off to Bree Runway. The British pop trailblazer is back today with new single Somebody Like You, which really shows off her voice.
It is one of a string of great new releases this week, including Raye and Disclosure’s collaboration Waterfall.
James Bay is back with heartfelt single Give Me The Reason, while girl group FLO’s debut fills the void left by Little Mix’s hiatus. The trio’s track Cardboard Box is produced by MNEK, who worked on Little Mix’s Sweet Melody, Touch and Wings.
Members Renee Downer, Stella Quaresma and Jorja Douglas said they wanted fans to feel “empowered” by the song. It sounds like they’ll go the distance.
RITA’S SO XCXCITED ABOUT ALBUM No3
CHARLI XCX is on course to hit No1 today with her new album Crash – and pal Rita Ora clearly wants a piece of the action.
I can reveal Rita has been in the studio with writer-producer Rollo, one of the key players behind Charli’s latest hit Beg For You, featuring Rina Sawayama.
A source said: “It’s been a long time coming but Rita’s third album is finally taking shape. The other week she was in the studio with Rollo and also Oak Felder, who produced eight tracks on Demi Lovato’s Dancing With The Devil album last year.”
Rita has also been recording with Grammy-winning producer duo Stargate, the team behind Rihanna’s Only Girl (In The World) and Katy Perry’s Firework.
Throughout her career Rita has looked to Charli for support. She sang on Charli’s 2014 single Doing It and Charli wrote Rita’s summer 2021 hit You For Me.
Charli has previously said of their friendship: “She is one of my favourite people to party with.”
In February I told how Rita had split from her label Atlantic and been snapped up by BMG. After being wooed by the company, Rita agreed a deal under which she will own her future master recordings.
After spending the past few years focusing on TV ventures, it’s time Rita brought the focus back to her music.
Taron's show off
ACTOR TARON EGERTON’s turn in West End show C*ck has been something of a c*ck-up.
He collapsed during his first performance earlier this month and has now got Covid, meaning his role will be played by an understudy until next week.
TIM’S APPY LOVE
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET has turned to online dating to find love – but forget Tinder.
The Hollywood heart-throb, who has recently been in the UK shooting new film Wonka, has been spotted with a profile on exclusive app Lox Club.
It describes itself as a “membership-based dating app for Jews with ridiculously high standards”, and holds members-only events.
Timothee is believed to have been single since he split from Johnny Depp’s actress daughter Lily-Rose last year.
His other exes include Mexican actor/singer Eiza Gonzalez and Madonna’s model daughter Lourdes.
He must have high expectations for the women on that app.
DAISY’S ALL ART
DAISY LOWE dressed like she meant business at the launch of Europe’s first NFT gallery, in East London’s Spitalfields, where she DJ’d for stars including I’m A Celeb’s Georgia Toffolo.
The launch at the Quantus Gallery showcased street artist Pierre Benjamin’s first NFT collection – which consists of digital cartoon images of famous individuals including Gandhi and Snoop Dogg.
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It is the first time Daisy has been seen out since opening up about how difficult it was to learn that her rocker godfather Gavin Rossdale was actually her dad.
She said: “There is no handbook for finding that out.”