While we can still count on a few things like the Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy, July 4th is going to look quite a bit different this year given the fact that a majority of gatherings are facing cancellation due to the fear of spreading the coronavirus. Well, Stephen Merchant takes it one step further by imagining what today would have been like had the British won….

As co-writer and co-director of BBC’s The Office, Merchant is best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais. The British writer, director, radio presenter, stand-up comedian and actor added a London West-End appearance a couple of years ago to his CV with his first play, The Mentalists by Richard Bean, alongside Steffan Rhodri at the Wyndham Theatre.

Photo: BBC

Known for his brilliant command of the English language, who better to address America on this abbreviated Fourth of July holiday and the question “What if the British won?” than the man, whom Ricky Gervais so eloquently likened to both a ‘stick insect with glasses’ and an ‘upright lizard being given electro-shock treatment’. Currently living in Los Angeles, Merchant has probably witnessed his fair share of American celebrations of Independence Day having had guest roles in Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons and American Dad over the last couple of years.

Happy Independence Day, America…from Stephen Merchant. Here’s hoping we can travel to the UK soon!