Four-and-a-half million views: Midlands boy in Ricky Gervais comedy goes viral

But whatever your view, it will certainly make a star of young West Midlands lad Thomas Bastable.

After Life, featuring comedian Gervais and nine-year-old Thomas, begins on March 8 on Netflix.

The preview clip shows Gervais walking past a school where a youngster, played by Thomas shouting an insult which is then met with a reply that can’t be repeated here.

The footage has so far attracted more than four million views across YouTube and social media.

The youngster, from from Willenhall, Walsall, who now wants to pursue a career in acting, said: “It’s really fun and amazing. He [Ricky Gervais] was really nice and very friendly. It feels really cool – super cool.

“My friends know I’m in it but they haven’t watched it.

“It was really shocking to be picked and it was very lucky.

“It wasn’t very scary to act at all – it was fun.

“I enjoyed shooting the scenes and it was very fun, but it was a long day.”

Thomas’s mother Debbie Bastable said she was “so proud” of the youngster.

The 46-year-old postwoman, said: “My son plays a school bully called Robbie in a few episodes and he fights with Ricky Gervais.

“A clip of them has attracted four-and-a-half million views.

"It’s quite harsh. It’s been a little controversial but I’m really proud of it.

“It’s just acting and it’s boosted his confidence no end and it’s all been positive. I’m very proud of him. It’s really good for him to do.”

The show follows the story of a man who loses his wife and goes to kill himself – but decides not to.

Instead, he decides to tell everybody what he thinks of them.

Debbie, who has two children and three step-children, said she put Thomas forward after seeing the opportunity pop up on Twitter.

'Ricky was a lovely man'

“It just came up on Twitter that they were looking for this kid and I sent some photos and a video of Thomas acting and Ricky Gervais picked him out himself and he got the part. It was a bit of good luck.

“Acting is what he wants to do. He has got a twin sister called Molly as well and she’s very excited for him – but she wants her fame as well. He was absolutely fantastic.

“The insults were actually filmed separately and he had to wear padding to make himself look bigger.

“Ricky was a lovely man and it’s been all over Twitter.”

The clip initially provoked backlash – with some people criticising the scene and language involved.

Mrs Bastable defended the scenes, insisting it was only acting.

She said: “I can understand it to a point because it’s a harsh thing to say, but it’s just a show and it’s only acting.

“He didn’t actually say it to his face and if people get offended, don’t watch it.

“There’s movies out there which show kids getting murdered and abused - this is hardly anything.”

It led to Ricky Gervais tweeting: “Hi Debbie, it was such a great day and he’s a lovely little chap in real life.”

Mrs Bastable added: “It was unexpected and I was like a little kid when he tweeted back.

“If it happens [Thomas featuring in the show again] that would be amazing.

“It’s a big thing and we’re all very proud of him.”

But will Thomas be able to watch the show?

“I’ll let him watch it because he’s in it - it’s swearing, that’s all it is," his mother said.

"I’m going to watch it beforehand to make sure it’s 100 per cent safe, though.”