MUMBAI: HBO and the BBC have announced a co-production deal for Extras. This is a new comedy series from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant who created the Golden Globe-winning BBC comedy series The Office.

Currently in production, the six-episode first season will debut on BBC Two in the UK later this year. The HBO debut will be announced later.

HBO Entertainment president Carolyn Strauss said, "Ricky Gervais is one of the most original comic voices working today. HBO is extremely proud to join with the BBC in bringing his new show to America."

Extras stars Gervais as a bitter, aspiring actor Andy Millman. He gives up his day job to pursue fame in the movies, only to find he just can't land the big parts. Each episode will have a different setting and feature cameos by top Hollywood stars including Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction, Ben Stiller There Is Something About Mary, Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Patrick Stewart. The cast will also feature Stephen Merchant as Millman's agent.

Gervais said, "It's an honour to be on the same network that gave us The Sopranos. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Previous successful co-production partnerships between HBO and the BBC include the upcoming series Rome as well as the HBO Films presentations Dirty War and The Gathering Storm.