Gervais and Merchant praise US drama

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant have praised the quality of American television drama as they put the finishing touches to the next series of Extras.

Speaking about the imminent second series, Gervais and Merchant said they had enjoyed making it but were hoping to make "something more dramatic" in the future. Gervais commented: "All the things we like at the moment are coming out of America."

He cited The Sopranos, 24 and The Shield as examples of top quality programmes and added: "They are innovative, audacious and done brilliantly and are taking on film."

Merchant pointed out that for now their current project had the better of them. He joked: "We get so exhausted at this stage that we say we are never going to do anything else ever again."

The pair's second hit sitcom, famed for its mocking of stars who agree to appear, will in this series feature Sir Ian McKellen, David Bowie, Chris Martin as well as "a little, fat scouser called Keith Chegwin".

The series starts at 9pm on September 14 on BBC Two.