The popularity of BBC2's hit sitcom The Office has been confirmed by figures showing Christmas sales of the DVD and video made it the best selling TV title of all time. Fact.

The award-winning comedy starring Ricky Gervais as deluded boss David Brent sold over 1 million copies in just 13 weeks in the run-up to Christmas, also making it the fastest selling non-film DVD ever.

Gervais, who has said there won't be a third series of the spoof documentary, said: "The sales have exceeded all expectations. Or, as the Brentmeister General would have it, 'If that's true, excellent. Guilty as charged'."

According to figures released by the BBC's commercial consumer arm BBC Worldwide, The Office Complete First Series, released on video and DVD, sold a total of 1,024,386 copies - eclipsing previous best-sellers Ali G, Friends and The Royle Family.

It also beat competition from its main Channel 4 rival, Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, by selling more than double its number of DVDs with 683,099 sales to become the first ever non-film DVD to break the half million barrier.

Clever marketing by the BBC, releasing the DVD and video of the first series just as the second was ending on BBC2 to rave reviews, also contributed to its success. The second series will be released on DVD and video this autumn.

"The terrific range of our talent has resulted in a superb Christmas trading period for us. The cross-format success of The Office is particularly stunning, surpassing even our own high expectations," said the BBC Worldwide chief, Rupert Gavin.

Over 5.3 million videos, books and audio products were purchased from October to December, according to the BBC Worldwide figures.

Those joining The Office in the top BBC Worldwide Christmas sellers list included I'm Alan Partridge, Delia's Vegetarian Collection, Life of Mammals, Fimbles, Tweenies, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and classic Only Fools and Horses.

Revenue from sales of BBC Worldwide's range of books, videos and audio products from the three months in the run-up to Christmas were up by 10% on last year.

Delia's Vegetarian Collection was BBC Worldwide's top selling book from October to December with 200,000 copies sold. Another cookery title, Rick Stein's Food Heroes, was in the top five with 87,000 copies sold.