Actors from The Office reflect on 25-year legacy

Actors from The Office reflect on 25-year legacyImage caption, The Office first aired on BBC Two on Monday 9 July 2001ByCharlotte ColesSouth of EnglandPublished3 hours agoActors who starred in the UK version of The Office have been reflecting on its success as the beloved show celebrates 25 years.Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the multi award-winning and critically acclaimed BBC sitcom was set at Slough paper merchant Wernham-Hogg.Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook, who played Tim and Gareth respectively, reunited to look back at the series and reflect on its cultural impact. While Joel Beckett, who played Dawn Tinsley's fiancé Lee, and David Schaal, who played Glynn, also known as Taffy, spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about what it was like to film the show.Image caption, Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook played Tim and Gareth in the hit seriesThe mockumentary-style sitcom has become a global phenomenon, inspiring multiple international adaptations and influencing an entire generation of comedy.It ran in the UK until 2003, with award-winner Gervais at the helm as office manager David Brent.The BBC marked its debut with a special episode of Remembers, in which Freeman and Crook share personal memories and behind-the-scenes stories."...of course we didn't know how huge it would [become] and its longevity, but I do remember thinking, 'this is special, this is like nothing I've seen before'," said Crook.Among their anecdotes was how Gervais came close to ruining filming on a daily basis.Freeman said: "I've never laughed that much at work, before or since. It's easily the funniest time I've ever had."He said he initially auditioned to play Gareth but was "very very glad they called me back".Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Joel Beckett, pictured in 2005, and David Schaal, pictured in 2014, played Lee and "Taffy" respectivelyFreeman compared being in The Office to "...