Ricky Gervais has revealed that Karl Pilkington has finally committed to An Idiot Abroad spinoff The Short Way Round.

The comedian said at a screening of new Channel 4 comedy pilot Derek, in which Pilkington makes his acting debut, that he had been able to convince his friend to embark on the cycling adventure with dwarf actor Warwick Davis.

"I can persuade him," Gervais said. "I try lots of things and eventually I can see he's interested with something I've said and I work on that... He's finally signed a contract for The Short Way Round, cycling round the world with a dwarf in his basket.

"When I told him that idea, he didn't say 'That's ridiculous', he said 'So I'm doing all the f**king peddling?' That was his first problem with the idea.

"He was worried about it and he signed the contract this week, so he can't back out now. He's in too deep."

Gervais went on to confirm that he will also be working with Davis again on a new instalment of BBC sitcom Life's Too Short.

Referring to his creative partner Stephen Merchant, he said: "We've just started writing this week a special of Life's Too Short, which is at the moment turning into a spinoff series with Les Dennis, Barry from EastEnders (Shaun Williamson) and Cheggers (Keith Chegwin). I couldn't resist it."

Gervais announced last year that Life's Too Short will return for a second series on BBC Two in spring 2013.

Pilkington has already filmed two series of An Idiot Abroad for Sky1.

> 'Derek': What is Ricky Gervais's new comedy pilot like? - Preview

Watch Warwick Davis talk to Digital Spy about The Short Way Round below:

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