As co-writer and co-director of BBC’s The Office, Stephen 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.

Known for his brilliant command of the English language, who better to address America on this 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.