Ricky Gervais, the co-creator and star of hit BBC series The Office, has confirmed that it is to return to TV screens, having just finished its second series.

The show, which more than doubled its ratings from the first series, has proved immensely popular, with record DVD sales and figures of 4.4 million viewers for Monday night's episode.

Gervais said: "I'm flattered that people care about The Office and for the people who enjoyed the show, that is not where we leave it.

"At the moment, I can't tell whether that will be a third or fourth series, a one-off special, or a TV movie. The story comes first - when that's written, and everything that needs to be said is said, we'll know what the format will be."

Ricky Gervais stars at David Brent

Gervais writes and directs the BBC Two show with Stephen Merchant.

The show depicts the dysfunctional goings-on in the office run by Brent, who is backed by his sidekick Gareth Keenan, a territorial army fanatic.

Executive producer and BBC head of comedy, Jon Plowman, said he thought the series' success lay with the fact it was "a comedy of recognition - sometimes excruciatingly so".

"But it was something that everyone understands and has an echo in a lot of people's lives in a way that The League of Gentlemen, for example, probably doesn't," he told a newspaper.

Resting

"I can't think of another show where the ratings have leapt like that from the first series to the second.

"They are having a rest at the moment but there will be more in the future. It might be a third series or it might be a special, but we haven't seen the last of David Brent yet."

The second series finished with manager David Brent being made redundant and receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davies) preparing to leave the company with unfinished business between her and salesman Tim (Martin Freeman).