Ricky Gervais has revealed that Karl Pilkington was too nervous to play a major role in series two of Derek.

Pilkington starred in the first series of the Channel 4 comedy as caretaker Dougie, but will play a much smaller role in the upcoming second run.



"If you saw him in the first series, [he was] sweating [with nerves]," Gervais explained. "He couldn't really act with other people, 'cos he was so nervous. I honestly didn't know whether to hug him or put him down!"



Though Pilkington only shot two days on Derek series two, Gervais argued that the character of Dougie "wasn't really integral" to the show.



"The show is so much more about Hannah (Kerry Godliman) and Derek anyway - he was just the icing on the cake," he said.



The second series of Derek begins April 23 on Channel 4, and will be available to US residents via Netflix from May 30.

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