The Office misses out on Emmy nomination

Ricky Gervais’s smash hit The Office has failed to get nominated for the Emmys, TV’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The Emmys require at least six episodes to be broadcast in the United States before a show is nominated.

But the BBC only has five eligible episodes from the six episodes in the second series.

The first episode of the second series was entered in last year’s International Emmys, and cannot be submitted twice.

A BBC spokeswoman said it was “an unfortunate issue of timing”.

Gervais’s name was originally left off the Bafta shortlist because of a BBC clerical error but went on to win Best Comedy Performance while the show won Best Sitcom.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “At the time the International Emmys were entered The Office seemed to have no chance of qualifying for the Primetime Emmys, because eight episodes were needed for entry.

“This year that qualification was dropped to six episodes, but there is no way anyone could have predicted that.”

She said: “BBC America have been in constant discussion with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant over this and they both totally understand the situation.

“They are both still pretty stunned over the Golden Globe success.”