Ricky Gervais the popstar! The Office icon looks unrecognisable in belted white jumpsuit as he takes to the stage to perform in 1983

Ricky Gervais looked unrecognisable in a belted white jumpsuit in a throwback snap from his 1980s pop career.

The comedian, 64, launched a bid for chart success in 1983 during his final year at University College London, when he formed new wave duo Seona Dancing with friend Bill Macrae.

They were signed by London Records and released two singles, More To Lose and Bitter Heart, but neither cracked the UK Singles Chart.

Now, the retro photo has gone viral, showing a youthful Ricky with long dark hair as he performed in the eye-catching ensemble. 

At just 22, Ricky made an appearance on the British kids' TV show Razzmatazz, which was one of the duo's only television performances. 

Fans quickly flocked to the comments to share their shock at his look, with one writing: 'Very Duran Duran, Spandau looking….';

'Mr Gervais already being cool in the eightees'; 'Like I could love him more.'; 'This will never not amuse and amaze me.' 

'Wow didn’t know Ricky could sing'; 'No way is that him'; 'I didn’t know he was a singer.' 

Despite his limited success in music, Ricky achieved greater mainstream fame several years later with his BBC television mock documentary series, The Office, in 2001.

Ricky shed light on the fact that music seeps into his TV work, as he uses any outlet to showcase his work as a 'frustrated, failed musician'.

His most iconic creation - The Office's David Brent - is also a failed musician, with Ricky releasing a mockumentary movie in 2016 following the fictional boss's failed attempts at breaking the music charts.

Additionally, during David Bowie's cameo in the second season of his hit show Extras in 2006 saw the esteemed artist break into song - composed by Ricky.

In 2016, during an appearance on Graham Norton, he said: 'I sneak a song into everything I do. I wrote a song for The Simpsons, I wrote a song with David Bowie for Extras. I'm a frustrated, failed musician.'

Graham then flashed up a promo shot from his Seona Dancing days - and he insisted that he had come over bashful due to his current look.

He said: 'That’s called Seona Dancing, let’s move on. I’m not embarrassed by [the throwback picture], I’m embarrassed by [my current look]. Everyone’s going, ‘What the f**k happened?’ I’ll tell you what happened: Pizza happened.'

While his career in music floundered - the superstar previously made history with his latest accolade, winning the first Golden Globe in new category, Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.

The British comedian previously insisted he had no chance of winning, but triumphed over Trevor Noah (Where Was I); Chris Rock (Selective Outrage); Amy Schumer (Emergency Contact); Sarah Silverman (Someone You Love) and Wanda Sykes (I’m An Entertainer).

He did not attend the ceremony in Beverly Hills that night, with comic Jim Gaffigan accepting the award for Ricky's Netflix special Armageddon on his behalf.