Written by a pair of then unknown comedy geniuses, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office was not the instant hit that it perhaps appears as we look back.  I was a slow starter with the show, primarily because I was away on honeymoon when the first episode, Downsize aired on BBC on 9 July 2001. However, the David Brent character bore such an uncanny likeness to my then boss, that it was soon required viewing - it wasn't just the physical similarities which had me hooked if I'm being honest