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The prize: the tadpole bedpan from episode one |
I never discussed runners-up prizes with Ricky
initially but he was so moved that he felt compelled to commend more than one
person for their efforts and he is now sorting out seven signed photographs to seven runners-up!
But there can only be one winner. We asked what Derek Season One meant to you and the winner of the signed tadpole bedpan, as
featured in the first episode of Derek is......... Alice
Jorgensen for this truly moving piece:
I have autism. I
know what it's like to get abused and beaten up in school every day. What it's
like to stand up again, every time, although you don't have the power to.
I wish there was a
show like Derek when I was younger. It would've made me feel less lonely. I
don't know if Derek is autistic, but it doesn't matter, because I relate to
him.
Derek is the warm,
empathic friend I wish I've had when I was a kid. I wanna be like Derek when I
grow up. After all, kindness is magic.
Congratulations Alice - a truly heartfelt message. Your bedpan, pictured below, signed by Ricky Gervais will be sent to you next
week!
Alice Jorgensen - the proud owner of this! |
And now the runners-up. I'm sure this was incredibly
difficult for Ricky but seven more entries really stood out for him and they are:
Shane Trundley:
Derek Series One
perfectly enraptured the beauty of true human life. The wide range of emotions
it draw from within me opened my eyes to see beyond the everyday problematic
issues we all face and appreciate the bigger picture. I became engrossed within
Derek as a whole and almost lived within it rather than viewed it as a program.
If everyone felt and took these positives from the series and applied them to
their own circumstances even in the smallest way we will all be looking forward
to a very bright future for ourselves and others.
Iain Mac:
The best thing
about Derek is its simplicity. There's no subtlety or hidden meaning behind
Derek Noakes' actions because there doesn't need to be. Kindness is the
simplest thing on earth to emit, and it needs no ulterior motive.
So in the simplest
terms possible, I love Derek because he has inspired me to do two things:
1) Be kind!
2) Write a letter
to his creator (via a website named in honour of Anti-Semitic Amphibicide)
giddy with the faint hope of securing a fucking piss-stained piece of ceramic.
If that's not love,
what is?
Astrid Baudine:
Derek proved me that kindness is not a weakness. I sometimes think that I
am unadapted to this world, that being too kind hurts me because lots of people
are cruel and selfish. So, I thought I should be cynical and misanthropic to be
happy. But Derek showed me that you can be proud to be full of kindness. It
gives you more than you can ever received. It gives you love, respect and
warmth. Smiles. Company. Kindness never leave you alone. And as kindness is
magic, Derek is the best wizard of us all.
Paula Gofford:
The very
first episode of Derek was motivation enough for me to commit to the idea of
changing career, into that of Elderly Care. I had wanted to do it for a long
time. Since beginning to apply after the first episode, I have secured myself
not one, but two jobs. I am now making a difference to the elderly in my
community, and enjoying spending time with these wonderful people. I could not
have done that without Ricky and the wonderful script and production of Derek.
Aaron Butterworth (and Muriel Butterworth):
Why did I love the
first series of Derek? Because I am Derek.
Well, I'm not
actually Derek; my names not Derek and I don't live in a nursing home, but I'm
close enough.
I live with my Nan,
my dad is an alcoholic, I'm a little bit different and I'm not the smartest
person in the world. (I had to get a friend to help me write this entry).
Derek showed the
world that it's far more important to be kind than anything else and that even
if you aren't like everybody else it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Derek is an
inspiration to me, my Nan and my friend.
Mandy Pinetown:
What I love
about Derek is that he doesn't judge or give up on people; Derek is willing to
accept anyone for who they are. He doesn't dwell on what anyone else thinks of
him because what matters to him are the people in his life who he loves and in
return who love him. Derek teaches us that the most important thing in life,
despite anything else, are the relationships we build and have with people. Not
just those in our family, but strangers as well. Overall, the most valuable
thing about Derek is his heart of gold.
Jack Emmens:
Never before have I witnessed anything that can make a person change from
laughing hysterically to fighting back tears and then back again in a matter of
minutes. Derek shuffled his way into everybody's heart faster than a baby
monkey riding on a pig. He became a nation's best friend overnight and we have
been with him on his journey, feeling every euphoric moment and every heart
wrenching plot twist. I can relate with every other character on the show
because our lives have one thing in common, they have been enriched by having
Derek in them. Kindness is magic!
I would just like to say a huge thank you to
everyone who entered the competition and everyone who has engaged with this
website. TadpoleHitler.com could not have been a success without the fans.
I've smiled like this for the past 8 weeks! |
The
amazing artwork, the banter and the kind words I have received has made this a
truly surreal and thoroughly enjoyable experience. And don’t worry, I’m not
going anywhere – I will still be here to fill the void as we wait patiently for season
two!
A bed pan?
ReplyDeleteThank you Ricky. Derek is a mirror of my life as the manager of a care home for adults with learning disabilities. It's nice to know someone else sees and understands our world. We laugh alto and we also have a cry together too. No other job is like it , no other job takes over your life like it and no other job makes you feel everything you demonstrated in Derek. X
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