Xfm Series 0

The logo used by Xfm from launch in 1997 until the takeover in 1998.

Xfm Series 0 refers to the original Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant show on the pre-takeover Xfm. The show was broadcast from January to August 1998 from 4-6pm on Sundays, and was followed by The X-Rated Review Show presented by Lawrie Hallett (who Ricky and Steve called 'Rory Halibut').

Whereas later incarnations of The Ricky Gervais Show would be purely conversational the show's original format was busier and more interactive, with features, guests, phone-ins, and audience interaction through listener's letters.

Regular Features

'Do You Want Some Beer?' was a regular feature of the show in which Ricky would ring someone up at random and offer to send them some beer for free. The people who Ricky would call were often confused and suspicious of his offer, mainly because he didn't always let them know he was doing this as part of a radio show.

Another feature was 'What Can You Do For Me?', where Ricky and Steve would use their influence as radio presenters to get free stuff. One person offered to release a single for Ricky.

Notable Events

During one show, Ricky and Steve attempted to bleep the Super Furry Animals' "Man Don't Give A Fuck" live by pulling down the fader and making a noise in place of each of the fifty-plus mentions of the word "fuck" in the song. However, the pressure became too much for Gervais, who messed up and swore in frustration.

Ricky would often phone his mother on air. She was eccentric and in one conversation said she had gone swimming in a pond. Also, she would pester Ricky to pronounce his surname correctly ('Gervay').

The end

In August 1998, Ricky and Steve took voluntary redundancy after the Capital Radio Group bought out Xfm.

Recordings

There are only two recordings of pre-Capital Gervais and Merchant show in circulation, in addition to a handful of MP3 clips which can be found on "The Best of the Rest" compilation. These clips are:

• The Honey Badger
• Do You Want Some Beer?
• Fox, Chicken, Bag of Seed
• Hotel of Hate
• Pissing In The Sink

External Links

• Transcript of The X-Rated Review Show