Gervais 'will eventually quit acting'

Ricky Gervais has said he will one day give up acting for a future behind the camera.

The comedian, who shot to fame in The Office and Extras, remarked that he will further his career by writing and directing rather than acting.

"Being one of the leads is very nice and flattering. But I'm not pursuing it," he said.

"I've never wanted to be an actor. I've never thought of myself as one. Let's face it, I'm not a great actor, but I have fun doing it. I'm still going to write, direct."

Fellow actor Simon Pegg recently hit out at Gervais over his claim that there have been no quality British movies since the 1950s.

"He says a lot of things, that man. He said there had been no good British films since 1950. What an idiot," Pegg remarked.