Merchant: 'We wanted worthy screen debut'

Stephen Merchant has said that he and Ricky Gervais wanted to make a film suited to the cinema with their upcoming movie Cemetery Junction.

The Office and Extras co-creator told The Times that he was put off by past films from TV writers.

Merchant said: "One of the things that's always bothered us is people who have done some telly and they instantly think, 'Well we must make a film then'.

"They pop up, essentially doing what they've done on telly, and often it's not as good, it doesn't really warrant being a film. We were quite keen to do something that deserved to be on the cinema screen."

Of the movie, Gervais added: "We don't want it to be a depressing, gritty, kitchen sink drama. It's quite rock 'n' roll, it's quite upbeat.

"My memories of the early '70s, it was fun. The summers did feel like it was always sunny. That's obviously nostalgia playing funny tricks, but we're trying to put that on screen."

> Video: Gervais teases 'Cemetery Junction'