Gervais: New Muppets movie my career highlight

Ricky Gervais says 'The Muppets... Again!' is the highlight of his career.

'The Office' funnyman claims teaming up with iconic puppets Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy is even better than working with Robert De Niro, as starring in the family fun follow-up to 2011's reboot is his dream role.

Speaking on 'The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show' on Absolute Radio, Ricky said: Honestly, this is the first time when I've really gone, 'I really can't believe my luck here'. I think people think I am blasé about doing all this stuff but this tops working with De Niro.

"It is absolute magic and I have been a huge fan literally for 35 years."

The superfan thinks 1992 classic 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' is "the greatest story ever told" and he revealed he has grown so attached to the loveable puppets that being on a film set will never be the same without his furry friends.

He enthused: "I honestly watch 'A Muppet Christmas Carol' at least twice a year. Honestly, it's already the greatest story ever told, 'A Christmas Carol', and the only way you could improve on Dickens is stick in some Muppets.

"I want to do it to every film I do now; 'Schindler's List 2', it doesn't matter I just want Muppets in every movie."

'30 Rock' actress Tina Fey, Ray Liotta and 'Modern Family' star Ty Burrell round out the human cast in James Bobin's sequel.

The plot centres around the Muppet repertory company getting entangled with a diamond thief called Constantine - a doppelgänger for Kermit - while on their world tour.