Despite enjoying a starring role in the new Muppets movie, Most Wanted, Ricky Gervais felt second best to Kermit, Piggy and the rest of his fuzzy co-stars – and like every star that has performed with them, he felt utterly upstaged. That’s just a rite of passage in showbiz, though.

The Muppets Most Wanted

“I knew it was going to happen. I knew from day one ... It's funny because the first thing that worried me in the script is the song and dance number. I'm OK at singing, I'm a failed pop star,” he explained, referencing his young years in which he attempted to make it in the music industry.

“I always sneak in a song, I wrote songs for ['Office' alter ego] David Brent, still doing it, wrote a song for David Bowie for 'Extras', wrote a song for 'Sesame Street' with Elmo. Dancing, a little bit awkward,” he added. 

“And then I think, 'It's alright, there's going to be a frog on screen dancing. They're not going to care what you're doing with your clumsy little short legs.' So I got away with it.”

But for Gervais, being upstaged by The Muppets was just a by-product of working with them, and secondary to the actual thrill of doing so. 

“I love being upstaged by these things,’ he said, adding that he couldn't believe his “luck” when he was filming scenes. “I ruined a lot of takes by just by laughing. Once I went, 'Hah, I'm in the Muppets.' ... 'Cut! Yes you are in the muppets, let's do that again, don't say that though'. I can't believe my luck, I'm a big kid.”

Watch the trailer for The Muppets