Gervais spoofs political celebrities in his new stand-up show

He plays a spoof political comedian who rants about world affairs but knows little about them in a UK stand-up tour beginning next month.

If he adapts it for TV it will probably "be best for a commercial channel and not the BBC", he told the Sunday Times.

But Gervais is also working on another new show with Office co-writer Stephen Merchant, which will be for the BBC.

Gervais said his as-yet-unnamed political character was "a satire of political thinkers and people who try to make a difference".

He would also poke fun at "comedians who think they are really sticking it to politicians, or rock stars 'getting involved'", he added.

Gervais said: "There is a need for these people and I love people getting enthused and passionate about anything.

I haven't signed anything and I haven't even done it yet Ricky Gervais

"It's just when comedians double up that I don't like it. I mean, is it a toaster or a wine rack? Surely you can get a better toaster or a better wine rack but not both together."

His targets include comedian Ben Elton, student politics and the obsession with South American revolutionary Che Guevara.

Footage has been filmed for a DVD release of the stand-up show, but a spokeswoman for Gervais said there are no plans to adapt his Politics character for a television series.

"I haven't signed anything and I haven't even done it yet," he said. "It's not quite a BBC thing at the moment."