He rewrote the rules for the TV sitcom with his portrayal of cringe-making boss David Brent in The Office.

And now Ricky Gervais has got another big grin on his face as his hit series After Life has been named the best British modern comedy.

The show, which Gervais wrote, directed and starred in, came top in a Radio Times poll.

In the black comedy, which aired from 2019 until its third and final series in 2022, the comic plays misanthropic local newspaper reporter Tony who grapples with the death of his beloved wife Lisa to cancer.

The widower contemplates taking his own life before deciding to punish the world in his grief, all the while being supported by his dog Brandy.

Gervais, 64, said the bittersweet series did so well because it was picked up by streaming giant Netflix. He added: 'But I also think it resonated because everyone has been through something like it.'

He said a friend working for the Samaritans had begged him to not let Tony go through with his suicide, which made him 'bothered' about a role for the first time.

He said: 'This time, I thought, "I've got to do this right."'

In a tear-jerking final episode, Tony reflects on his relationship with Lisa, played by Kerry Godliman, by her graveside and finally comes to terms with her untimely death.

After Life, which also starred Diane Morgan, Mandeep Dhillon, Joe Wilkinson and Tom Basden, scooped the gong for Best Comedy at the National Television Awards in 2021 and 2022.

Detectorists – written, directed by and starring Gervais's Office co-star Mackenzie Crook – came second in the Radio Times poll.

The BBC show, also starring Toby Jones, sees the two main characters travel the countryside in search of treasures with their metal detectors.

BBC comedy Ghosts ranked third, followed by Peter Kay's Car Share.

Readers were asked to vote on their favourite show from 2010 onwards only, meaning classics such as Only Fools And Horses and Fawlty Towers were excluded.