Martin Freeman's face falls at the very mention of it – a hint of 'slight annoyance' creasing his features as he recalls the claims from The Office's creators that their beloved Britcom was completely scripted. The 25th-anniversary celebrations brought this debate back to the fore, with Freeman, the talented Tim Canterbury, speaking out about what really went on behind the scenes.
This fly-on-the-wall masterpiece, a mockumentary series that captured the hearts of British viewers in two glorious series between 2001 and 2003, has long been debated – did the cast's naturalistic performances conceal or reveal improvisation? While co-creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have always maintained it was all scripted, Freeman offers a differing view.
In Remember… The Office, a BBC special marking the comedy's quarter-century milestone, former co-star Mackenzie Crook reinforced this notion of 'very little improvisation'. However, Freeman countered that while 'it was all there on the page', his take is that the cast's contributions were loose – a masterclass in subtlety and nuance thanks to the genius scripts penned by Gervais and Merchant.
Freeman's frustration stems from the published scripts not being an accurate reflection of what actually happened. 'When the scripts came out, they weren't the real deal – they were transcriptions of what had been on telly,' he explained. This misleading portrayal made it sound as though lines were simply ad-libbed, but Freeman knows that's not the case: 'anyone who knows any of us' would attest to the authenticity of their performances.
He acknowledges the need for some creative protection – preventing audiences from thinking the cast just winged it. And he understands why Gervais and Merchant might have wanted to maintain control over the narrative, especially given The Office's immense global impact, including a US remake starring Steve Carell.
Ricky Gervais was conspicuous by his absence from the BBC special, but with ongoing talks between him and the BBC regarding the show's legacy, it seems there's still much to be discussed – and perhaps even clarified. For now, we can appreciate Freeman's candour and the enduring brilliance of The Office's scripts.
As this iconic comedy continues to captivate audiences around the world, one thing remains certain: its influence extends far beyond the paper company in Slough that formed its central plot – it's left a lasting impression on British television history.