The Office star is named as Britain’s top-earning comedian knocking Peter Kay off the top spot (and it’s NOT Ricky Gervais!)

Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay have lowered in the ranks of Britain’s most top-earning comedian after The Office star has claimed the title.

He began starting out waiting in Ricky’s footsteps whilst he played the part of Nathan Oggy in the hit comedy. 

But Stephen Merchant has now officially out-performed the legendary comedians as he rocketed past their staggering fortunes, according to The Sun.

Stephen now holds a whopping £26.6million fortune, thanks to his recent TV stint in the BBC comedy drama The Outlaws.

Ricky sits on a staggering £24.4million, while Peter has a hefty £22.6million to his name.

Still pretty good: Ricky sits on a staggering £24.4million, while Peter has a hefty £22.6million to his name

According to new paperwork, it was revealed that Stephen owns a number of TV production companies, with his primary business, SJJM Ltd, holding £25,146,362 in assets alone.

Last year the publication revealed how Ricky stashed a small amount of money away following his highest-grossing single performance on his Armageddon tour which earned him £1.4million from just one night.

Peter’s slew of shows at London’s O2 Arena later this year, could see his fortune boost even further.

While some prefer fame over fortune, Stephen recently admitted he would like to turn back the clock and become an unknown again.

He said: ‘The unique thing about The Office was that no one knew who we were, so there were no expectations.

‘You’re not thinking about the papers or about the audience. You’re just thinking, ‘This is fun, let’s get it made’. It’s hard to get back to that moment.’

‘I think the size of his bank balance will rather soften the blow.’

Stephen lives in a £2.4 million mansion once owned by former US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres with his girlfriend Mircea Monroe.

Incredible: Stephen Merchant has now officially out-performed the legendary comedians as he rocketed past their staggering fortunes (pictured on The Outlaws)

Rich list: Stephen now holds a whopping £26.6million, thanks to his recent TV stint in the BBC comedy drama The Outlaws

Observing: He began starting out waiting in Ricky’s footsteps and played the part of Nathan Oggy in the hit comedy

The couple, who have been together since 2018, met at an awards ceremony six years ago but Stephen previously revealed that he had had trouble finding a girlfriend because of his height. 

He told Alan Carr: ‘If they’re down there and I’m up here, it’s a bit tricky.

But by 2019, Stephen admitted it was great to not have to worry about ‘filling’ such a void in life after he had met the St Louis native.

He said: ‘Aside from the fact that she’s great… there’s something very pleasing about not having the endless concern about filling that part of your life.

‘That’s a very lonely life, the life of a single person’.

Loved-up: Stephen lives in a £2.4 million mansion once owned by former US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres with his girlfriend Mircea Monroe (pictured in February at the BAFTA’s)