George Michael Romps In Park With Panto King

Dec 23 2007 By Steve Hendry

Starstruck Gerard Can't Believe His Extras Special Treat As He Goes Cruising With Gay Rock Star

PANTO king Gerard Kelly admits he was dumbstruck when he starred with pop superstar George Michael in the Extras Christmas Special.

The Scots actor shares a no-holds-barred scene with the gay singer cruising for men on London's Hampstead Heath in the star-studded farewell episode of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's show.

It is a merciless mickey take of former Wham! star George's headline-grabbing private life but Gerard admits the singer handled it better than he did.

He said: "Ricky asked me to come back. I said, 'No problem, what do you want me to do?' And he said, 'I want you to go on Hampstead Heath with George Michael.' I was like, 'Come off it!'.

"I didn't expect to be as overawed as I was. I was sitting on a bench with George and I was lost for words. I mean, what am I going to talk about - have you ever done panto, George?

"I was relaxed in the scene but I was never unaware I was in the presence of George Michael.

"Funnily enough, Ricky said he was the same when David Bowie guest-starred in Extras. It's weird. A big-name actor would just be another person on the job but there is something about a pop star. I suppose it's because these guys perform the soundtrack to your life.

"But George was fantastic. He had learned his lines, was totally professional and just went for it."

The Christmas episode also features star turns from Clive Owen, Gordon Ramsay, David Tennant and regulars Ashley Jensen and Shaun Williamson.

There's also an appearance by Scots actor Stuart McQuarrie, who plays a department store manager who can't shift dolls of Ricky's character Andy Millman.

Gerard, 47, is playing theatre director Ian 'Bunny' Bunton, a camp bully who is back in Extras for the third and maybe last time - much to his regret.

He said: "Bunny literally only exists in Extras. Ricky has hinted he might do another Christmas special, so who knows. I hope so because I love playing him.

"Camp characters are normally non-threatening but Bunny is utterly malevolent. He's a sort of force of darkness. That's what makes him so funny.

"Ricky and Stephen always seem to find a way to plonk Bunny in there and I think the character has become a lucky mascot."

Gerard, who starred as wannabe writer Willie Melvin in sitcom City Lights, will miss Extras when it is screened.

He will be on stage in the critically-acclaimed pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the King's Theatre in Glasgow with former Monarch Of The Glen star Dawn Steele, comic Karen Dunbar and Still Game's Gavin Mitchell.

But he is recording the TV show's extra special finale.

He said: "It is excellent. You expect comedy, comedy, comedy then suddenly it turns into an examination of fame and how it's affected Andy Millman and it's curiously moving.

"He's become a monster and completely forgets he was once an extra. It's just brilliant."

Extras is on BBC1 on Thursday at 9pm. Sleeping Beauty is at the King's until January 12.

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