Ricky Gervais considers marriage to Jane Fallon for tax reasons

Comedian Ricky Gervais has indicated he may marry his long-term partner, author Jane Fallon, primarily to mitigate the impact of inheritance tax. The couple has been together for 44 years since meeting at University College London in 1982.

In an interview with Saga Magazine, Gervais, 65, expressed skepticism regarding the necessity of marriage for romantic or religious reasons, noting that the couple already shares their lives and finances. However, he admitted that the practicalities of UK tax law are a deciding factor. Under current UK regulations, assets passed between legally married spouses or civil partners are generally exempt from inheritance tax, whereas unmarried partners do not receive the same automatic exemption. This distinction could be significant given Gervais’s estimated fortune of approximately £141 million.

Fallon, also 65, is a bestselling novelist. Gervais remarked on the irony of the situation, noting that while many formal marriages fail quickly, their decades-long partnership remains stable, making the legal formality a matter of financial pragmatism rather than sentiment.