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"Ricky Gervais sitcom pilot Derek will be screened on Channel 4 in April, it has been announced. The Office creator is hoping that the nursing home-centred comedy, which also stars Karl Pilkington in his first acting role, is commissioned for a full series. However, BAFTA is billing its screening in London, on Tuesday, March 27, as &amp;quot;a one-off comedy drama&amp;quot;.  A Channel 4 spokesperson said: &amp;quot;Channel 4 is very excited to be working with Ricky Gervais on this new project and it&amp;#039;s wrong to say we have rejected a series. &amp;quot;The pilot will be on TV in April and then there&amp;#039;ll be further discussions about the potential for a full series.&amp;quot; Derek Noakes, to be played by Gervais, is described by BAFTA as &amp;quot;a tender, innocent man whose love for his job and the people he cares for shines through&amp;quot;. &amp;quot;He&amp;#039;s 49 years old and loves animals, Rolf Harris, Jesus, Deal or No Deal, Million Pound Drop and Britain&amp;#039;s Got Talent - but his main hobby is autograph hunting,&amp;quot; added the description. Pilkington will portray retirement home landlord Dougie, Noakes&amp;#039;s employer. James Bond legend Sir Sean Connery will reportedly appear in the first episode. Derek Noakes first appeared in a short at 2001&amp;#039;s Edinburgh Comedy Festival, then a 39-year-old aspiring stand-up comic living with his grandmother. &amp;gt; Ricky Gervais cuddles a rabbit in anti-animal testing ad - video "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a371991/ricky-gervaiss-derek-noakes-sitcom-pilot-to-air-on-channel-4-in-april/>