The Office notches up record sales

Christmas shoppers snapped up more than a million video and DVD copies of The Office - making it the all-time best-selling TV title in the UK.

The award-winning BBC2 comedy also grabbed the title of fastest-selling non-film DVD, topping sales records after only 13 weeks on general release.

It makes it one of the most successful television shows in recent times.

Ricky Gervais, who stars as manager David Brent in the spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary, said: "The sales have exceeded all expectations. Or, as the Brentmeister General would have it: 'If that's true, excellent. Guilty as charged.' "

According to figures released by BBC Worldwide today, The Office Complete First Series, released on video and DVD, sold a total of 1,024,386 copies - eclipsing classic best-sellers Ali G, Friends and the Royle Family.