After Life spoilers follow.
With a name like After Life, it wouldn't be unreasonable to wonder just how the 'afterlife' features in the Netflix series.
But there's one popular fan theory that creator Ricky Gervais would like to set straight. Ghosts do not exist in the After Life universe.
Ricky, who stars as Tony in the black comedy, hosted a Periscope livestream on his Twitter account to chat all things After Life – including a third season – when he revealed the truth about Penelope Wilton's character Anne.
Related: After Life season 2 ending explained: Why it had to finish that way
When asked if it was possible Anne could be a ghost (they do meet in a graveyard, after all), Ricky replied: "No, she's not. I love that conspiracy theory and it could happen.
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"Not in one of my things. That would be odd, if I suddenly – unless I did an actual fantasy thing where there were ghosts and angels, which I might one day." (via The Mirror).
Explaining that Anne represents the best in humanity, Ricky insisted: "She's real. She's there to show that the kindness of strangers can save a life, really, and that we all need an Anne in our life.
"That slightly older, wiser person with nothing to gain other than just showing empathy and honesty," he added.
"It was that really, it was just the straightforward, didn't have to think about it, being nice to someone."
In other After Life news, Ricky recently confirmed that he would "love" to write a third series of the drama, as long as the reaction to its second "carries on".
"I'd love to do a season three, it looks like it's going to go down a storm," he told fans. "So, if this reaction carries on then yes."
After Life is available to stream on Netflix now.
Netflix/Left Bank Pictures The Crown season 3 with Amazon exclusive box artwork
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