Xfm Series 1

Xfm Series 1

Xfm Series 1 ran from September 2001 to May 2002 and marked the return of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to their former employers, Xfm following the Capital Group takeover in 1998. Earlier in the year Ricky and Steve had written and directed the first series of their sitcom The Office. It was broadcast in July 2001 to critical acclaim and the success of the sitcom was thought to have been a factor in Xfm's re-hiring of Ricky and Steve. Further evidence of their success could be seen in the fact that Xfm had given them a producer, unlike their old Xfm show which they had had to produce themselves. Their new producer was a laconic, round-headed Mancunian by the name of Karl Pilkington, who was originally an off-air producer. However, Ricky and Steve found his contributions hilarious and with their encouragement Karl got steadily more involved. The development of Ricky and Steve's relationship with Karl was apparent over the course of the series, and by the end Karl had become an essential part of the show.

Although the series began in September 2001, the earliest show in circulation is 10 November 2001. There are 23 shows from Xfm Series 1 in circulation and each show has an individual page detailing its contents. They can be accessed by clicking the 'Title' (date) of each show.

List of Episodes

	Title	Xfm Label	Season	Listen	#
	10 November 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	1
	This show is the earliest known recording of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on Xfm following their return to the station after the Capital Group takeover.
	17 November 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	2
	Steve's animal trivia about birds with penises leads to an afternoon of euphemisms and double entendres, much to Karl's chagrin.
	24 November 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	3
	It's Stephen Merchant's birthday. Both he and Ricky are hung over after going out (separately) the previous night.
	01 December 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	4
	Karl: Well...like, when you're born, you're a little baby, you're wrinkly and stuff, when you get older you sort of morph into a baby again.
	08 December 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	5
	Karl talks about his mobile disco.
	15 December 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	6
	Features Ricky's song "Dont cry, it's Christmas" - also, Jonathan Ross stops by and whips out his famous member. Karl wants to know what gem the Pope wears, but then he loses the printoff and can't answer.
	22 December 2001	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	7
	Ricky and Steve discuss Christmas presents and the Bionic Man.
	12 January 2002	The Early Years Ep. 1	Xfm Series 1	Removed	8
	Steve discusses the drawbacks of being 6´ 7´´ tall, and Karl reveals the origin of baguettes.
	19 January 2002	The Early Years Ep. 2	Xfm Series 1	Removed	9
	Steve and Ricky talk about driving incidents. Karl tells a story about ghosts he heard from a program called "Mr. Exorcist" involving a depressed budgie. Ricky invites the listeners to send in their questions for Karl.
	26 January 2002	The Early Years Ep. 3	Xfm Series 1	Removed	10
	Karl informs Ricky and Steve how much it costs to run the Tube escalators 20 hours a day.
	09 February 2002	The Early Years Ep. 4	Xfm Series 1	Removed	11
	Steve complains about people talking on phones in cinemas, but Karl gets the better of him.
	16 February 2002	The Early Years Ep. 5	Xfm Series 1	Removed	12
	Ricky talks about feng shui and tries to get Karl to say one of the gods (FUK)
	23 February 2002	The Early Years Ep. 6	Xfm Series 1	Removed	13
	Karl reveals he never went to receive his GCSE results
	02 March 2002	The Early Years Ep. 7	Xfm Series 1	Removed	14
	Karl receives his GCSE result, and talks about this classmates from school including his pet, Maggie the magpie.
	09 March 2002	The Early Years Ep. 8	Xfm Series 1	Removed	15
	Karl's homework: read all about Che Guevara; White Van Karl; Karl's brother; Karl in "Little Donkey"; Elephant woman.
	16 March 2002	The Early Years Ep. 9	Xfm Series 1	Removed	16
	Karl in Heat; Karl's homework: Hitler; White Van Karl: Will Young, police protest, privacy laws; Attaching 6000 balloons to Karl.
	23 March 2002	The Early Years Ep. 10	Xfm Series 1	Removed	17
	Ricky wants to have Karl lifted up in the air by balloons. Ricky teaches Karl about fables.
	30 March 2002	The Early Years Ep. 11	Xfm Series 1	Removed	18
	Karl's homework: Aesop's Fables. Ricky in trouble for coarse sexual innuendo.
	06 April 2002	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	19
	Episode with the now famous, or infamous, White Van Karl links containing the "Horse in the House" story, Karl selling little snippings of flowers for charity, and the Sainsbury tins "that'll be interesting for Meatballs" finalé.
	13 April 2002	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	20
	Karl's dad puts a Forrest Gump In A Wheelie Bin.
	20 April 2002	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	21
	Karl does impressions; Karl beats Ricky at lateral puzzles and "goes a bit mental" over it.
	27 April 2002	The Early Years Ep. 12	Xfm Series 1	Removed	22
	The boys return from the BAFTAs; they talk about urban myths.
	04 May 2002	n/a	Xfm Series 1	Removed	23
	Last episode in the series. Karl's Room 101

External Links

• Xfm's Ricky and Steve Minisite