Sir Ian McKellen (episode)

Ian McKellen thoroughly explains his simple acting technique to Andy

## Guest appearances

Ian McKellen

'**Sir Ian McKellen**' is the fifth episode of the second season of *Extras*, the eleventh episode overall in the series. It was originally broadcast on 12 October 2006 on BBC Two and on 5 February 2007 on HBO. The guest star in this episode was English actor Ian McKellen.

## Summary

With the critical reaction to his sitcom getting more scathing, Andy asks Darren to find him some serious theatre work as a way of regaining some reputation. He is recommended to Ian McKellen, and is cast in a play about a homosexual relationship – *A Month of Summers*. With his upper school friends led by Steve Sherwood turn up for the first night, and McKellen's sudden decision that he should kiss his male co-star, Andy feels increasingly uncomfortable to the point of leaving the play midway through the first performance. Darren asks Maggie on a date, which comes to an awkward conclusion.

## Cast

### Main

* Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman
* Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs
* Stephen Merchant as Darren Lamb
* Shaun Williamson as Barry (himself)

### Recurring

* Shaun Pye as Greg Lindley-Jones
* Martin Savage as Damon Beesley
* Guy Henry as Iain Morris
* Liza Tarbuck as herself (as Rita)
* Andrew Buckley as himself (as Gobbler)
* Jamie Chapman as himself (as Brains)
* Sarah Moyle as herself (as Kimberley)
* Sarah Preston as Make-up woman

### Guest

* Ian McKellen as himself
* Gerard Kelly as Bunny
* Jonathan Cake as Steve Sherwood

### Extra

* Rufus Wright as Fran
* Nadia Williams as 3rd A.D.
* Anna Crilly as George

## Quotes

* Ian McKellen: "Case in point: *Lord of the Rings*. Peter Jackson comes to me in New Zealand and says to me: Sir Ian, I want you to be Gandalf the Wizard. And I said to him: You are aware that I am not really a wizard?"
* Bunny: "I was living a lie and she [my wife] knew it, but now I'm able to go out and enjoy some serious cock guilt-free. Yuma, yuma, yuma, yuma!"
* Andy: "It's a gay play. I've got to play a gay, with another gay. Acting all gay. All through the play, it's so... gay."
* Andy: (after Darren asks Maggie out) "Oh my god, it's worse than I thought. She's hit rock bottom."

## Trivia

* This episode marks the second and final appearance of the character Bunny, portrayed by Gerard Kelly. He had previously appeared in the first season episode 'Les Dennis'.

## Cultural references

* Steve Sherwood greets Andy by the nickname "Andy Pandy", a character on the 1950 television series of the same name.
* Darren attempts to defend his selection of the homosexual play *A Month of Summers* for Andy by listing successful films with such themes, including *Philadelphia* (1993) and *Brokeback Mountain* (2005).
* Andy and Maggie have a conversation about the television series *The Six Million Dollar Man* and *The A-Team*.
* Ian McKellen mentions his role as Gandalf in the *Lord of the Rings* franchise.
* The British current affairs shows *Newsnight* and *Late Review* analyse *When the Whistle Blows*.

## Gallery

Maggie watches on as Andy struggles to remember the make-up woman's name whilst signing an autograph