Gervais jokes about US 'Office' rumours

Ricky Gervais has joked about the rumours that he is planning to join the US version of The Office.

Gervais has been linked to the series since Steve Carell announced that he is planning to leave the show next year.

Writing on his blog, Gervais joked: "I suppose it doesn't matter what I say for the world of entertainment news, so let's try a new approach. Report one of the following."

His first statement read: "I am definitely taking over from Steve Carell on The Office. Yes, I have been asked to take over as the new boss of Dunder Mifflin. I said yes. They made me an offer I just couldn't refuse. I will once again play David Brent and I take over next season. I can't wait. Steve Merchant and I will also write and direct. I will remain executive producer."

However, Gervais continued with a second paragraph, saying: "Or, I'm not taking over from Steve Carell and will just continue to make millions for doing f**k all because I created the show and all the characters, and own the format and it's being syndicated now and I get paid every time any episode of any version is played anywhere in the world, and I stopped my version at its height and I don't think I can improve on that, and I don't want to go back to that and get up at 6am every day of the week for seven years."

Gervais added that only one of the statements is true, joking: "I don't know which one to believe. What would you do if you were me?"

Carell's final season of The Office premieres on September 23 on NBC.