May 7, 2008 10:45

Ricky Gervais to launch NME Radio

Comedian will host special show with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington

Ricky Gervais will host a two-hour radio show on NME Radio with his comedic radio cohorts Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington next month.

The show will be broadcast on June 9, then repeated daily. It will also be available on demand at NME.COM/RADIO.

The show will be be broadcast as part of NME Radio's test transmissions, which begin on June 2.

NME Radio will officially launch on June 24. Initially it will be available on NME.COM as well as Sky, Virgin Media and on DAB in the south-east of the UK.

Gervais' show will involve banter between the trio, who have recorded a series of hugely successful, record-breaking podcasts together in the past, as well as their favourite songs.

Sammy Jacob, NME Radio managing director, has worked with Gervias previously at XFM.

"Hearing Ricky, Steve and Karl in action again will no doubt keep me on my toes," he declared.

"I used to bury myself hearing Ricky and Steve on air in 1997, fearing we would lose our licence each time they went on," he continued. Having Karl on board has only made matters worse. I look forward to some compelling radio."