Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant Awards Speech

Nice one, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

They've had a great 2004, they got two Golden Globe Awards this year.

Also the Christmas special DVD has already sold a quarter of a million.

And tonight comes Bitter War.

Tom Stoppard and Noah Gallagher, together at last.

What are you working on?

We don't have to thank anyone. No?

No, we should maybe thank the, uh, we should maybe thank John Plowman.

Why?

Maybe the BBC?

We're on a proper channel now.

Maybe, um, we should thank the producers for all their input.

Nice one.

Um, it's so funny, um, talking to the producer,

he's had his little... Oh, he is hot.

When Stephen Hawking came up, he had his little nose part a joint.

Which, to be honest, is the least of his problems.

Because usually he's the best one in the room.

So, um, don't worry. You're just the same as Stephen Hawking.

But without all the clever stuff.

Although he milked it a bit, didn't he?

He's a genius. I'd have had it ready, I'd have had it...

What, what do you expect?

Um, I lost him for a little bit. Yeah, you won him back. I won him back.

Um, thank you, uh, very much. This,

um, we've won an awful lot for the show over the past three years. Too much. It got embarrassing, to be honest.

And I've won a lot of individual awards.

But, uh, this is for writing. No, on a serious note, this is for writing.

Because, um, I can speak for Stephen as well.

Um, we are proudest of my writing.

I knew he'd agree with me.

Um, and the thing is, the other thing about writing is, um, it's not paid as well.

I've earned about, what, 10, 20 times what you've earned.

Really. I mean, again, that's embarrassing.

And even in the industry, it's not looked upon as important. I've never seen Alan Yentob run across a crowded room to hug a writer.

Um, but thank you very, very much. Thank you very, very much, indeed. And, uh, um, Merry Christmas. Thank you.