Winslet to star in Office sequel

Ricky Gervais has signed up Kate Winslet to star in his follow-up to the hit comedy series The Office.

15:56 09 January 2005

Ricky Gervais has signed up Kate Winslet to star in his follow-up to the hit comedy series The Office.

The Sun reports that the Titanic star will feature alongside Hollywood heartthrob Jude Law in the acting sitcom Extras, which will be screened on the BBC over the summer.

Winslet reportedly agreed to appear in Gervais' latest sitcom, after admitting to being a big fan of The Office.

In Extras, Gervais plays an extra who lands a minor role in a movie starring Winslet and Law, who play "twisted versions" of themselves.

Gervais, who penned the new sitcom with his writing partner Stephen Merchant, said he could not believe the two Hollywood favourites wanted to work with him.

"It's great to have Kate Winslet and Jude Law on board as we have so few British people who have made it big in Hollywood, but these are two who have," Gervais told The Sun.

Gervais, a former pizza delivery man, has been inundated with offers of work following the success of The Office and is set to star in Mission Impossible III with Tom Cruise. He has also been invited to write an episode of The Simpsons, by the cartoon's director Matt Groening.