Ricky Gervais triumphed at the Baftas last month

The Emmys require at least six episodes to be broadcast in the US before a show is nominated. The BBC only has five eligible episodes.

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

The show's star and creator Ricky Gervais recently won two Baftas and two Golden Globes for the series, which finished on BBC One last Christmas.

It has failed to make the cut for the Emmys because an episode was already entered in last year's International Emmys, and cannot be submitted twice.

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.

'Understood'

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

She said the BBC had discussed the matter with Gervais and his co-writer, Stephen Merchant, and they "totally understood" the situation.

"They are both still pretty stunned over the Golden Globe success," she said.

At January's Golden Globes, The Office won best TV comedy and Gervais was named best comedy actor.

At the Baftas in April, Gervais won best comedy performance for the third year running, while The Office also won best sitcom for the third year in a row.