ritish funnyman Ricky Gervais has praised George Michael's willingness to poke fun at his recent sex scandals.

The Careless Whisper singer makes a cameo in a forthcoming Christmas episode of the comedian's TV program Extras, in which he is seen cruising a park for gay sex.

Gervais, 46, tells Heat magazine, "What we get him to do is incredible - so close to the truth - but he was willing to do that.

"But that's why George Michael has survived - because when he's caught cruising (London park) Hampstead Heath, he doesn't curl into a ball and flog himself, he goes on (U.K. chatshow) Richard & Judy and says, 'Yeah, I did it, what's the problem?'"

Michael admitted to visiting notorious gay sex haunt Hampstead Heath in search of sexual partners after he was photographed there with van driver Norman Kirtland last year