LONDON – We think it's fair to say that there aren't many people in this world who wouldn't want to see Ricky Gervais and Ed Sheeran performing a song together (particularly if the song in question happened to be that time-honoured classic from The Office, "Free Love Freeway", and Gervais was in character as David Brent).
Well, it looks like we may well get our wish. It all started when Gervais put the idea out there during a Facebook live stream on Saturday.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Free Love FreewayPosted by Ricky Gervais on Saturday, September 5, 2015
"So, Ed Sheeran should do a cover of that," Gervais says in the video, after performing his own rendition of "Free Love Freeway". "All breathy and ginger like he does... be great, number one... he can give the money to charity."
It wasn't long before he took to Twitter to put the idea to Sheeran directly.
I think @edsheeran should do an Ed Sheeranesque acoustic version of Free Love Freeway. Worldwide number 1 guaranteed.— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) September 5, 2015
And Sheeran actually sounded game.
@rickygervais if you do it with me lets do it for Red Nose Day or comic relief. Or just pocket the cash and buy those mini segways— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) September 5, 2015
@edsheeran haha. You're on!— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) September 5, 2015
At this point it seems there are two ways this could go: either we're going to see a rendition of "Free Love Freeway" performed by Gervais and Sheeran for charity at an upcoming event, or... well, something involving Segways.
Celebrity Segway Racing coming soon to Channel 5 @edsheeran pic.twitter.com/Opmyd9OaRS— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) September 5, 2015
The only sensible thing to do while we're waiting is to watch the original a few more (hundred) times.