A thin Ricky Gervais? Now that's a sight to behold. In 1998 Gervais had a one-off on Channel 4 entitled Golden Years and for anyone without access to 4oD's TV-on-demand service someone has kindly posted it here. It is a fascinating piece of broadcasting history and not just because you can actually see Ricky Gervais with a relatively flat stomach. Many of the trademarks that have made him telly's top comedian are already in place.

Gervais plays Clive Meadows, the co-owner of movie store Videozone ("That's Rentertainment") and with the benefit of hindsight the character feels distinctly like a dry run for David Brent. There's the same Brentish desperation to make jokes, the same painful pauses, the same flirting with his long-suffering secretary, the same cheap suits, the same embarrassment about his impending middle age. And like Gervais himself, there is an overwhelming obsession with future Extras star David Bowie – the crop-topped Ziggy Stardust impression is priceless.

In fact the only thing that is missing is the ironic political incorrectness that has become Gervais's stand-up calling card. Although if you also follow the youtube links to the rest of the programme you'll find a hint of the bad taste to come at the very, very end. Gervais completists might also like to know that Stephen Merchant's dad has a cameo as a bemused colleague.

The one thing this episode has taught me, however, is never throw anything away. When Golden Years was aired as part of C4's late-night Comedy Lab strand I received a very nice personal letter from the then unknown Ricky politely asking me to find some time to watch it and maybe write about it. Of course, being far too tidy for my own good, I threw the letter away. Just as I threw away a set of hand-written lyrics given to me by Manic Street Preacher Richey Edwards. A few years later I also disposed of a letter by Russell Brand, pleading with me to see his embryonic act. I get a strange feeling of nostalgia and regret when I think of these incidents. They may never happen again. And a saved email from a future superstar will not fetch anywhere near as much on ebay.

So here's my message for the day. Never throw anything away. Unless it actually has mould on it.