Ricky Gervais joins the Hollywood elite as sole host of Golden Globes
Ricky Gervais has landed one of the biggest jobs in showbusiness as the surprise host of next year's Golden Globe awards.
Not just another day at the office: previous winner Ricky Gervais will host next year's Golden Globes
The event is second only to the Oscars in prestige and will cement his place as one of Hollywood's elite.
Gervais, 48, has resisted similar offers in the past, but accepted the role as master of ceremonies after producers promised him a "free rein". The creator of The Office and Extras will be the first main host of the Globes since 1995.
He said: "I have resisted many other offers like this, but there are just some things you don't turn down. Not only is this the biggest Hollywood celebration of the industry which includes both film and TV, but also an environment where I feel I can get free rein as a host."
The 67th annual awards ceremony will take place on 17 January at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Organisers approached him after a jibe directed at Kate Winslet at this year's event proved the comedy moment of the evening. Winslet took away the best supporting actress honour for her role in The Reader, in which she plays a former Second World War concentration camp guard.
Addressing the actress from the stage, Gervais said, to laughter: "I told you, do a Holocaust movie and the awards come, didn't I?"
In an episode of Extras, Winslet sends herself up as an actress attempting to win an Oscar by playing a nun in a Holocaust movie.
Gervais, a previous winner for The Office, made fun of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which selects winners, for not nominating him, saying: "That is the last time I have sex with 200 middle-aged journalists."
There are fears that Gervais's irreverent humour may go down badly with some audience members.
But Paul Telegdy, an executive vice-president at NBC, which broadcasts the awards, said: "Ricky is certainly one of the funniest people on the planet and has provided some of the most hilarious and memorable awards show moments in recent memory."
Hosting an awards ceremony has not always been on Gervais's list of priorities. In an interview this year with The New York Times, he said: "I think it's a thankless task for a comedian. I'd rather be the naughty schoolboy than the teacher."
The Golden Globes nominations will be announced on 15 December.
PREVIOUS HOSTS
1995 John Larroquette and Janine Turner
1994 Ann-Margret and Beau Bridges
1993 Christian Slater
1992 Pierce Brosnan and Jacqueline Bisset
1991 Dana Delaney and Steve Guttenberg
