BBC denies £5m Gervais contract

Gervais is currently filming his new sitcom Extras

The BBC has denied reports it offered Ricky Gervais, star of The Office and new sitcom Extras, a "golden handcuffs" deal to remain with the corporation.

In a recent magazine interview, Gervais said he "could have taken £5 million to sign a handcuffs deal".

But a BBC spokeswoman said the performer was "talking broadly, saying a golden handcuffs deal wouldn't work for him personally".

"An exclusive £5m deal has never been offered," she added.

"Conversations about future projects take place constantly and the BBC is happy to continue to work with Ricky on a show by show basis."

In the interview, published in Heat magazine, Gervais said so-called handcuff deals "promote laziness and extravagance".

"It's a bad idea for both parties," he is quoted as saying. "The only good thing about them is that they offer you loads of money to do it."

The Office star plays a struggling actor called Andy Millman

Gervais was filming his new sitcom Extras and was unavailable for comment.

He plays struggling actor Andy Millman in his new show, which will feature cameo appearances from Samuel L Jackson, Kate Winslet and Ben Stiller among others.

The 43-year-old said he is "very excited" about the sitcom and believes it will be "as good as The Office, but completely different".

"There are lots of romantic-comedy elements," he is quoted as saying. "It's more of a Woody Allen-style comedy."

Gervais can currently be heard as the voice of a scruffy pigeon in animated film Valiant.