“I don’t think I’ve ever been lonely,” Gervais told the newspaper. After Life is about the grieving widower and journalist Tony, who has lost his wife to cancer. As a result, he has mental problems and he often sees life as gloomy.
“I’ve never suffered from depression or despair like Tony does. I’ve seen things – when you’re sixty, you’ve been through a lot. My parents, another family member, all my pets and some friends have all died.”
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Fear
Gervais can’t imagine ever losing his partner, as Tony does in the series. “That’s the worst thing that could happen to me. So it’s fantasy, fiction, but it does come from that fear.”
The third season of the series arrives on Netflix on January 14. After Life is the most streamed British series worldwide to date.