Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon met as students in London in 1982. They have been together ever since.
They did not meet in the music industry, at a publishing company, or at work in later life. They met at university, before either of them was famous.
At a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Met | 1982, at University College London |
| How | As students, through the university union and mutual friends |
| Moved in together | 1984 |
| Married? | No |
| Children? | No |
| Fallon | Author and former television producer |
| Gervais | Comedian, actor, writer, director, and creator of The Office |
The Short Answer
Gervais and Fallon met in 1982 while studying at University College London (UCL). Gervais was studying philosophy. Fallon was studying history.
They were both 21. They met in the Students’ Union bar and through friends around the university. They started a relationship that year.
They moved in together in 1984. They have lived together ever since.
Who Is Ricky Gervais?
Ricky Gervais is an English comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer. He is best known as the co-creator and star of the British version of The Office.
In The Office, he played David Brent. He later created and starred in Extras, Derek, and After Life.
Before comedy, Gervais tried a music career. He formed the new-wave duo Seona Dancing with Bill Macrae while at university. The band was signed to London Records but had limited chart success in the UK.
Who Is Jane Fallon?
Jane Fallon is an English author and television producer. She was born on December 9, 1960, in Harrow, London, and was the youngest of five children.
She studied history at UCL and graduated in 1982. She later worked in television, including as a producer on the BBC soap EastEnders.
Fallon then became a bestselling novelist. Her books include Getting Rid of Matthew, Got You Back, and Queen Bee.
How They Met in 1982
Fallon was in her third year of a history degree when she met Gervais. Gervais was studying philosophy.
They met in the Students’ Union bar at UCL and through mutual friends. Fallon has described those early days as informal. Dating, in the modern sense, was less structured. They met at the union, went to discos, and spent time together.
Their relationship began in 1982, the same year Fallon finished her degree. Gervais finished his philosophy degree in 1983.
Life Together After University
1984: Moving in together
In 1984, Gervais and Fallon moved in together. Their first flat together was a small, cheap flat in London’s King’s Cross area, above a sauna.
Money was tight in those early years. Fallon’s television career began to take off first. Gervais worked at the UCL Students’ Union for several years, where he developed ideas that later shaped his comedy career.
Careers in different directions
Gervais later worked at London radio station Xfm. He then broke through with The Office, first broadcast in 2001.
Fallon built a career as a television producer before turning to novels full time. Both found major success in their forties, in different fields.
They now live in Hampstead, London. They also have a home in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk
Are Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon Married?
No. Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon have never married.
Both have said marriage was never something they felt they needed. Gervais has said they are married in all practical ways, with shared money and a shared life, but see no point in a ceremony.
Fallon has said neither of them was particularly interested in a wedding. She has said that if one of them had cared strongly about it, they probably would have married.
A 2026 update on marriage
In August 2026, Gervais told Saga magazine that he now expected to marry Fallon for inheritance-tax reasons. He said a marriage could protect the surviving partner from a large tax bill.
He was clear that this was not yet done. He said: “We haven’t done it yet.”
So the position remains the same: as of that report, Gervais and Fallon are not married. A possible future wedding for tax reasons is not a wedding that has happened.
Do Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon Have Children?
No. Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon do not have children, and they have said that was a shared choice.
Fallon has said she never saw herself as a mother, even as a child. She has said she has no regrets about that choice.
Gervais has said they did not want to dedicate years of their lives to raising children. He has described it as too much hassle and not something either of them wanted.
They have shared their home with cats over the years. That is a part of their home life, not a substitute claim about children.
Jane Fallon’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The old article gave a wrong date and a wrong story for Fallon’s illness. The verified recent facts are different.
In March 2026, Fallon announced that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The diagnosis followed a routine mammogram in the week before Christmas 2025.
She said she had no symptoms. A radiographer spotted something unusual during screening and referred her for further tests and a biopsy.
She had surgery in March 2026, followed by a second operation to secure a clear margin. In April 2026, she said surgeons had “basically got it all” in the first procedure.
In October 2026, Fallon said she was completely recovered. She also said she was still dealing with exhaustion as a side effect of tamoxifen, a post-treatment medicine.
This section is kept brief and factual. It does not repeat the old article’s 2017 claim, which does not match Fallon’s own 2026 announcement.
Why Their Relationship Lasts
Gervais and Fallon have often credited shared humour and shared values. They agreed early on about marriage and children, which removed a common source of pressure.
They have also kept their private life steady while their public careers changed. Fallon supported Gervais before fame. Gervais has said Fallon inspired aspects of his later work, including After Life.
Their story is unusual in show business for its length, not for drama. They met at 21, moved in at 23, and are still together more than four decades later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon meet?
They met in 1982 as students at University College London. They met in the Students’ Union bar and through mutual friends.
How long have Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon been together?
They have been together since 1982. They moved in together in 1984.
Is Jane Fallon Ricky Gervais’s wife?
No. Fallon is Gervais’s long-term partner, not his wife. They have never married, although Gervais said in 2026 that he may marry her in future for tax reasons.
Do Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon have children?
No. They have no children together, by mutual choice.
Where do Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon live?
They live in Hampstead, London, and also have a home in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Gervais and Fallon met at University College London in 1982.
- They moved in together in 1984.
- They have never married and have no children.
- Fallon is a bestselling novelist and former EastEnders producer.
- Gervais is the creator of The Office, Extras, Derek, and After Life.
- Fallon announced an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis in March 2026, after a December 2025 mammogram, and later said she was completely recovered.
