The first season of EXTRAS finds British funnyman Ricky Gervais playing Andy Millman, a lowly extra who spends most of his life whiling away the hours on film and TV sets as he awaits a mercifully brief appearance in a new production. Millman's friend Maggie (Ashley Jensen) is also an extra, and finds herself in a similar predicament. In most of the episodes, Millman sidles up to the biggest celebrity on the set in a desperate attempt to get himself out of the extras business, but his lack of tact and his bad luck usually leave him right back where he started. Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, and a number of British TV celebrities such as Les Dennis and Ross Kemp all feature in the first season of the show.

In the second season of EXTRAS, Millman's sitcom, "When the Whistle Blows," has been commissioned. But Gervais's character soon discovers that fame brings a whole new set of problems into his life, especially when the BBC starts tinkering with his ideas. The formula of the first season is adhered to once again, and the core cast of Gervais, Ashley Jensen, and Stephen Merchant is supplemented by David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, Chris Martin from Colplay, Ian McKellan, Robert De Niro, and many others.

Ricky Gervais: British Actor, THE OFFICE TV Series
Ashley Jensen: Actress, TOPSY-TURVY (2002)
Stephen Merchant: 
Samuel L. Jackson: African American actor
Les Dennis: 
Ben Stiller: American Director/Actor, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
Ross Kemp: Actor
Kate Winslet: British actress, TITANIC (1997), ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPO
Patrick Stewart: British Stage/TV Actor
Daniel Radcliffe: British actor, HARRY POTTER
David Bowie: British Musician/Actor
Orlando Bloom: Actor, LORD OF THE RINGS (2001)
Chris Martin: Coldplay singer
Ian McKellen: British Actor/Screenwriter
Jonathan Ross: English Actor/TV Host
Ronnie Corbett: British Actor
Robert Lindsay: British Stage/Film Actor
Robert De Niro: Oscar Winning Actor/Director/Producer