Ricky Gervais launches new Oxfam Christmas gifts

Ricky Gervais launches new Oxfam Christmas gifts
Ricky Gervais launches new Oxfam Christmas gifts (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

British funny man Ricky Gervais has launched Oxfam's new gift range for Christmas – including a range of gift cards with his Flanimal characters on them. He appeared in Oxfam’s shop in Oxford to work behind the till and launch the range of cards, the proceeds of which will go towards work the charity often finds hard to fund. Ricky said: "Everyone thought Flanimals were useless - I did. But this year they're helping Oxfam change the world. "There are five Flanimal gifts to choose from and the money goes to different things. It might improve sanitation - give someone clean water. It might give people a voice if they're oppressed. "It might help general humanitarian work or it might go towards the prevention of HIV and Aids." The Flanimal gifts will be stocked alongside the more traditional Oxfam Unwrapped gifts such as goats and seeds. Paul Vanags, from the charity, said: "Whether you buy one of the fantastic Flanimals, or a more familiar gift such as feeding a family, safe water or a goat, these gifts really do make a massive difference to people's lives around the world." Since it was launched five years ago, the Oxfam Unwrapped gift range has raised more than £50 million and funded projects in more than 60 countries.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.