Comedian Ricky Gervais to host Golden Globes for 4th time

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Ricky Gervais will return to host the 2016 Golden Globe awards; the comedian previously hosted for three years from 2010-2012.
Ricky Gervais presents an award during the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California. PHOTO: REUTERS

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Irreverent British comedian Rick Gervais will host the Golden Globes ceremony next year for a fourth time, organisers said on Monday, bringing his biting humour to the glitzy annual movie and television awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Gervais, the creator of mockumentary The Office, hosted the dinner for three consecutive years from 2010-2012, keeping his celebrity targets on edge with a stream of barbed comments.

Organisers the Hollywood Foreign Press Association said they were thrilled to have him back for the Jan 10 ceremony.

"His off-the-cuff wit and quirky charm will surely have the room and audiences around the world at the edge of their seats," Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, said in a statement.

Gervais, 54, sent a cryptic Twitter message saying only "Pssst!" and launched the hashtag #Hesback.

The Golden Globes is one of Hollywood's biggest and rowdiest awards ceremonies, and is broadcast live on NBC around the world.

"Disarming and surprising, Ricky is ready to honour - and send up - the best work of the year in film and television. Fasten your seats belts," NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.

Last year's Golden Globes hosts were American comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who were at the helm for a third time.

Gervais starred in and created the British version of "The Office" in 2001 before selling the format to U.S. television.

Last week the organisers of the Oscars announced that edgy comedian Chris Rock would host its 2016 ceremony in Hollywood in February.

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