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We already know that the next instalment of Grand Theft Auto is going to be the biggest, the most graphically impressive, and probably the most violent to date. But it also looks set to be the funniest, as British comedian, star and writer of The Office and Extras has revealed he’s got a part in the game.

He recently spoke to Shortlist magazine, and told them how he’ll appear in the game as himself, performing at a stand up comedy club in down town Liberty City.

“It’s a first - which always interests me. It was shot in New York, my favourite place in the world, and I got to wear a tight lycra suit as part of the digital process. No, hold on, that wasn’t so good.”

“Unfortunately they captured the whole horror, except I look slightly tougher. It’s seriously a big deal, though. Games have outsold Hollywood for the past few years so it’s nice to be a small part of that.”

Which sort of gives it away a little that the only reason Gervais said yes to what must have been an odd approach from Rockstar was because he realised how much impact games now have on popular culture, and wanted a piece of the action. Hell, he’s got himself on or in every other type of medium over the past few years, including a particularly unmemorable part on The Simpsons.

His stand up is brilliant though, so the chance to watch never seen before rants from Gervais is yet another reason to buy the game when it comes out on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 next week.

The comedy club is thought to be just one of several extra-curricular activities you can take part in in GTA IV, along with bowling, darts and drinking. Sounds good to me!

Gervais also teases us with the knowledge that he turns up somewhere else in the game too, but wouldn’t reveal where. I have visions of a David Brent-alike gangster being part of the game, and that fills me with a certain amount of dread.

The chances are Gervais is not the only famous person to make a cameo in the game either. Samuel L Jackson appeared in San Andreas, and I’m guessing there’ll be someone even more A-List than Gervais playing some hardened criminal in the full game.

[Source: CVG]