Mackenzie Crook and Martin Freeman are reunited as the BBC celebrates 25 years of The Office

The BBC will mark 25 years since the debut of The Office in the UK with a special episode of Remembers, celebrating one of the most influential and acclaimed British comedies of all time.

Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office is the multi-award winning and critically acclaimed BBC sitcom set in the offices of Slough paper merchant Wernham-Hogg. The series redefined the sitcom genre with its innovative mockumentary style and sharply observed humour and since its original broadcast, it has become a global phenomenon, inspiring multiple international adaptations and influencing an entire generation of comedy.

The Office stars Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook - aka Gareth and Tim - are reunited to look back at the groundbreaking series, sharing personal memories, behind the scenes stories and reflecting on its enduring legacy and cultural impact. It’s been more than 15 years since the pair last laid eyes on each other, but the ground-breaking comedy's 25th anniversary has brought them together once again, sharing their memories of working, and laughing, alongside Ricky Gervais, co-writer Stephen Merchant, and their other leading office colleague Lucy Davis, who played the object of Tim's affections, Dawn.

Amongst the anecdotes are the tale of how Martin initially auditioned to play Gareth, how Mackenzie embraced one of TV's worst-ever haircuts, how Ricky came close to ruining filming on a daily basis, and what it was like to be at the heart of 'Office-mania' when the show was at its peak. On top of all that, Mackenzie and Martin share their views on the American version of the show and some of their personal favourite Wernham Hogg moments.

Mackenzie Crook and Martin Freeman Remember...The Office will be broadcast on Wednesday 8 July at 10pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

• Watch The Office now on BBC iPlayer

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