Barcelona Ricky Gervais had his differences with middle-management in The Office and with his fellow stars in Extras — but in his latest battle he will be taking on men dressed in “suits of light”, with Pamela Anderson at his side.

The comedian has formed an unlikely alliance with the former Baywatch actress to deliver the estocada, or death blow, to bullfighting.

The campaigners, calling themselves Prou! (Catalan for enough), say that the popularity of bullfighting is on the wane across Spain, and if bullrings close in Catalonia it could be the beginning of the end for the national sport. Gervais, who admits to liking roast dinners, has been a champion for animal rights for several years.

In 2007 he signed a petition in support of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare and has played benefit gigs to raise money for the World Society for the Protection of Animals. He became involved in the present Spanish anti-bullfighting campaign through WSPA. Prou! has gathered 180,000 signatures — more than three times the number needed by law — to persuade the Catalan regional parliament to ban los toros this year. But the celebrity activists are up against an equally determined campaign led by José Tomás, the David Beckham of bullfighting, who commands fees of €400,000 (£340,835) for an afternoon’s work.

Gervais said at the weekend: “What is the pleasure in seeing an animal speared to death? Bullfighting needs to stop — it’s so cruel.” Anderson, a veteran animal rights activist, said: “The most appalling kind of cruelty is that which is perpetuated in the name of mere entertainment.”

Gervais, who also campaigns against fox hunting and foie gras, puts his increasing squeamishness towards meat down to a stand-up tour he performed in 2003 on the theme of animals. He has previously written to Gordon Brown about the use of black bear fur for hats for the Household Cavalry. Gervais has also written Flanimals, a series of children’s books featuring a world of weird creatures.Although the popularity of bullfighting has been falling in the province of Catalonia since the 1960s, it is in part because of a desire among some Catalans to strike a separate identity from Spain, But the matadors are spoiling for a fight. In an attempt to prove that the sport is very much alive, José Tomás was persuaded to perform in Barcelona.

Tickets sold out in minutes. Juan Segura, president of the Catalan Bullfighting Federation, said: “We have 100,000 signatures who oppose this campaign. Last year we held 17 bullfights in La Monumental [the bullring] and next year there will be 20.”

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