Gervais was one of four Guest Editors to be given free rein of the November issue (on sale Thursday, October 8) but only agreed to be involved on the condition that he could recreate the controversial Ali cover.
When asked why, Gervais said: “I sting like a butterfly and I’m shaped like a bee. So close enough.”
The cover was shot by photographer Rankin who, along with Gervais, Radio 4 Presenter Evan Davis and author Nick Hornby, took charge of 20 pages each in the November issue of Esquire.
Esquire’s Editor, Jeremy Langmead, says: “We gave the four guest editors a pretty free remit as to what they put on them. And we think they’ve done a brilliant job. In fact, we’re a bit worried that they’ve done too good a job. They’ve made this month’s issue a scintillating, entertaining, informative and varied read and we hope our readers enjoy their work …. Not too much of course though as it’s us mere mortals editing again next month.”
For his contribution, Gervais edited the Entertainment section taking readers into his world of The Office and his new directorial debut, The Invention of Lying. He offers some pearls of wisdom to actress Jennifer Garner on how to bag an Oscar, goes behind the scenes of The Simpsons to talk about the writing process of America’s longest running comedy. Gervais also invites readers to take an A-Z tour of the singular brain of Karl Pilkington, star of the record-breaking Ricky Gervais podcasts.
Author Nick Hornby stamped his mark on Esquire by hunting out the best new writing, photography and music. The Arsenal supporter commissioned a piece by Rock ‘N Roll dad, Serge Bielanko who quit music to become a fulltime father, an interview with rapper 50 Cent (written by Rachel Cooke) and secured profiles on Chicago singer-songwriter, Liam Hayes and secretive tycoon Stan Kroenke – the money behind Arsenal.
Internationally-renown photographer, Rankin, sprinkles his magic on Esquire’s November issue with a photographic essay of male creatives including Matthew Williamson, hair stylist Duffy, and fashion designer Henry Holland and a sexually-charged photographic shoot of Heidi Klum. He was also interviewed by Peaches Geldof about the sexual process of photography.
Presenter Evan Davis takes Esquire behind the scenes of the Today Programme and also commissioned several features about surviving Britain’s economic doldrums, how to spot ineffective people, the best race bikes in the world and how to become a successful entrepreneur.
The Guest Editor’s November issue of Esquire is on sale, Thursday October 8.
