ARTICLES:

Life’s Too Short for HBO
fanshare.com
June 26, 2011

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s new comedy series Life’s Too Short is set to be shown in the US on HBO, it has been confirmed. Ricky has enjoyed a great relationship with HBO over the years, as the network has aired his hit shows The Office, Extras and The Ricky Gervais Show.

Life’s Too Short has already been confirmed to be shown on BBC Two in the UK and it will now also be shown on HBO in the fall of 2012. The show is set to be a mockumentary following the life of the dwarf actor Warwick Davis, who has starred in all of the Harry Potter movies.

Life’s Too Short will also have cameo appearances from some of the best talent in the US and the UK. These will include Johnny Depp, Steve Carell, Jo Enright and Rosamund Hanson. Warwick Davis has admitted that he is delighted to be a part of the show.

Sting to Appear in New Ricky Gervais
By Andrew Vaughan
gibson.com
June 26, 2011

Former Police man Sting will make a cameo appearance in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s new HBO/BBC2 comedy show, Life’s Too Short.

The faux documentary series is centered around dwarf actor Warwick Davis (Willow, Harry Potter, Star Wars) as a down-on-his-luck little person trying to hustle his way back into the showbiz spotlight. The series will feature British actors Keith Chegwin and Les Dennis as well as American TV star Steve Carell from the U.S. version of The Office and Hollywood superstar and Keith Richards pal, Johnny Depp.

U.K. Newspaper Metro quoted a Depp insider as as saying, “Johnny is a huge fan of Ricky’s and has a great sense of humor. He has wanted to work with Ricky for ages and this is it.”

The series will be broadcast on BBC2 later this year and on HBO in 2012.

The Office goes to Sweden
Remake for Gervais comedy
Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide
June 2011

The Office is to be remade in Sweden, nearly ten years after Ricky Gervais first appeared as hapless boss David Brent.

Gervais has sold the format commercial Swedish broadcaster TV4, which has commissioned eight 22-minute episodes.

Kontoret (a translation of The Office) will star Henrik Dorsin as boss Ove Sundberg. Dorsin is known in Sweden for writing and starring in a number of hit series including comedy Solsidan, from which his Kontoret character has been derived.

Gareth Keenan has been renamed Viking Ytterman and will be played by comedian Bjorn Gustafsson, who was voted Sweden’s funniest man in 2008.

Tim and Dawn have been renamed Erik Lundkvist and Therese Johansson - played respectively by Kim Sulocki and Sissela Benn.

Gervais said: ‘Sweden is a cool place for comedy. They really get naturalism and excruciating social faux pas.’

The original UK version has been sold to more than 170 territories and has been remade in Chile, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Russia and the US.

Gervais is currenly filming his new HBO and BBC Two sitcom Life’s Too Short.

The Office set for Swedish remake
By Clive Whittingham
C21Media
June 6, 2011

Sweden's TV4 has become the latest broadcaster to move ahead with a local version of Ricky Gervais-Stephen Merchant comedy The Office.

TV4 has bought the remake rights from distributor BBC Worldwide and will film 8x22' episodes under the Swedish translated title Kontoret. Swedish comedian Henrik Dorsin will take the Gervais lead role.

TV4 has previously aired the original British version of the show, which ran for 14 episodes. The original has sold to more than 170 territories since debuting on BBC2 in the UK in 2001.

Last year, Gervais announced he was working on a Chinese remake of the show and it has also been successfully recreated in the US, Germany, France and Israel.

Gervais discusses 'Office' season finale
UPI.com
May 20, 2011

LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the British version of "The Office," admits he doesn't think of the U.S. edition of the workplace comedy as "art."

The award-winning actor and writer, who also wrote and starred in the show-business satire "Extras," was blasted by some critics earlier this year for mercilessly teasing celebrities at the Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles.

He took to his blog to weigh in on Thursday night's Season 7 finale of the U.S. version of "The Office," in which he, Will Arnett, Ray Romano, Jim Carrey, James Spader and Warren Buffett made cameos.

"Watching 'The Office' finale may remind some of the Chris Martin episode of 'Extras,'" Gervais wrote on his blog, referring to how the Coldplay front-man made an unlikely cameo as himself on a factory-set sitcom in the "Extras" show-within-a-show "When the Whistle Blows."

"If you're going to jump a shark, jump a big one," Gervais added. "Still we've had good innings. Ha ha. I assume most people know I didn't do the U.S. remake for the art. I did my version for the art. That's why I stopped it after a few hours of telly. Don't get me wrong. I'm very proud of the U.S. version. It was not only a very, very good network comedy but it was also a massive success story. But you know, I did it for different reasons, ambitions and with slightly different emotional attachments to the project. And once and for all... I would never ever in a million years take a permanent role in the show as an actor. It really would be [expletive] mental. You don't start a company to work on reception. Can't wait to start work on the Chinese version. Bill Gates is in that one. Anyway, as you may know there's been 10 years of 'The Office' in some form or another. Happy Birthday."

Steve Carell, who played the boss in the U.S. version of "The Office," left last month after seven seasons, prompting fans to speculate about who might replace him. Many viewers have suggested Gervais should reprise his role from the original version of the show in the Americanized "Office."

The British edition ran for 14 episodes.

Science Officially Orders Season 2 of Ricky Gervais' An Idiot Abroad
By Michael Schneider
TVGuide.com
April 14, 2011

Ricky Gervais' pal Karl Pilkington has proven to be quite the useful Idiot for Science. The cable network is set to announce Thursday that it has secured the second season of hit series An Idiot Abroad.

For season two, Gervais and Stephen Merchant are again sending the dimwitted Pilkington on a trip around the world - but this time to tackle a "bucket list" of things to do before you die.

Unlike season one, which was produced first in the U.K. and later acquired by the Science Channel for the U.S. audience, the network will serve as a production partner. That means Science (which officially dropped the "Channel" from its name this month) will have a role in deciding where Pilkington ends up.

"It's great because we can bring the power of Science and (Science owner) Discovery and help them craft some of the biggest, boldest ideas," says Science executive vice president and general manager Debbie Myers. "The fun part is the topic — bucket lists. There's no limit to what we can brainstorm, and they're digging in."

In season one of An Idiot Abroad, Gervais and Merchant sent Pilkington off to experience countries such as China, India and Jordan, where he completed strange challenges. An Idiot Abroad not only improved Science's performance in its time period, but it also became the channel's top-rated series. Season two will shoot over the summer, with a likely debut in January 2012.

Because season two of An Idiot Abroad will be a Science co-production (with U.K.-based Mentorn Media) and not an international import, it will also be eligible for an Emmy here in the U.S. "If we make season two as strong as season one, it's definitely an Emmy contender," Myers says.

Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington also star in HBO's animated series The Ricky Gervais Show, which just landed a third-season pickup.

British The Office star Ricky Gervais will audition to be the boss in the US version of the hit TV show
thetelegraph.com.au
March 24, 2011

BRITISH 'boss from hell' David Brent, who's returning for the season finale of NBC's The Office, will be gunning for Michael Scott's job at Dunder Mifflin, the New York Post reported Friday.

Brent, who was created and played by Ricky Gervais in the BBC's The Office - the predecessor to NBC's Americanized version - will "be vying for the manager's job" vacated by Scott, played by Steve Carell, according to an NBC spokesman. "But, in typical David Brent style, he won't make it easy for them to hire him," the spokesman said, according to the Daily Mail.

Gervais and Will Arnett are joining Will Ferrell on the roster of A-listers who will appear on The Office in the next few months.

Gervais played his original "Office" boss, David Brent, in a January cameo appearance.

Carell taped his final episode -- set to air with four more episodes left in the season -- on March 4.

The season seven finale of The Office is scheduled to air May 19 on NBC.

Johnny Depp to appear on Ricky Gervais sitcom
Reuters
March 24, 2011

London - He was the butt of some controversial sparring at the Golden Globes for his role in "The Tourist," but Johnny Depp doesn't seem to have taken Ricky Gervais's high-profile ribbing to heart.

The star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchises is confirmed to appear in Gervais's upcoming BBC2 sitcom "Life's Too Short," according to a post on Gervais's blog.

Depp will guest star in the comedy, which is expected to have a host of big name cameo spots, though Gervais used his "This Side of The Truth" blog to dismiss rumors that Jerry Seinfeld would also make a guest appearance.

"The Depp bit is true. The Seinfeld isn't," he wrote.

"Life's Too Short," which is being co-written by Gervais' longtime creative partner Stephen Merchant, will air on HBO as well as BBC2. It features the continuing adventures of diminutive star Warwick Davis who plays an egomaniac dwarf who runs a talent agency for other dwarves.

Meanwhile Gervais used his blog to confirm that he and Will Arnett will guest star in the hour-long final episode of "The Office," scheduled to air May 19 on NBC.

Depp to cameo in Gervais' new show
March 24, 2011

(UKPA) - - Ricky Gervais has confirmed Johnny Depp is to appear in his new comedy Life's Too Short.

The Hollywood heartthrob will cameo in Ricky and writing partner Stephen Merchant's new sitcom for BBC Two, which stars Willow and Harry Potter star Warwick Davis as a pompous dwarf who runs a talent agency for other vertically-challenged entertainers.

Ricky said of the rumours on his website: "The Depp bit is true."

But he denied reports American comedian Jerry Seinfeld would also be appearing in the show, which has been described as a cross between Curb Your Enthusiasm and Extras.

The show, which is also being screened on America's HBO channel, begins filming in May.

Johnny is a big fan of British comedy having previously made a cameo in The Fast Show's Last Ever episode in 2000 as a customer to the "Suits You" tailors.

He has also slipped in several Fast Show references into The Pirates Of The Caribbean films as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Johnny Depp Lining Up For Guest Spot In Ricky Gervais’ Series ‘Life’s Too Short’
By Tim Adler in London
Deadline.com
March 17, 2011

EXCLUSIVE: Obviously Johnny Depp didn’t take Ricky Gervais ribbing him at the Golden Globes about his one-note performance in The Tourist to heart. He is trying to work out his schedule so he can guest star in an episode of Gervais’ new BBC comedy series Life’s Too Short, which, like Gervais' most recent BBC show, Extras, is also expected to air on HBO. Filming starts in England in May. Life’s Too Short follows a conceited and egomaniac dwarf who runs a talent agency for fellow showbiz dwarves. Warwick Davis stars as the monstrous talent agent. Gervais and Stephen Merchant have written this 6-episode half-hour series for BBC2. The British comedian has described it as a cross between Extras – his show about the travails of an unsuccessful actor – and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Beeb commissioned a non-broadcast pilot of Life’s Too Short last April that filmed in the summer. The pilot featured various Brit celebs such as art critic Brian Sewell. Gervais has also approached Jerry Seinfeld to appear in his new show, playing “quite a whiny Upper East Side Jewish guy”.

Comedy news: Stephen Merchant looking for a wife on comedy tour
Such Small Portions.com
March 16, 2011

Stephen Merchant has admitted that he hopes his new live tour will bag him a future Mrs Merchant.

The award-winning writer and star of The Office and Extras has said in an interview with Scottish newspaper The Daily Record that he is happy to use what he can, including money and fame to win the right woman.

"Everyone tries to represent themselves in the best possible way. They try to become the wealthiest or the best groomed or the most athletic.” Merchant said.

“Everyone is doing it to stand out from the pack and I happened to choose comedy."

However Merchant may find he has bitten off more than he can chew after calling his new tour Hello Ladies: "I've said jokingly I want to find Mrs Merchant but I don't want people turning up in bridal gowns. It could get quite scary.

"I've got to be careful. There is the danger of the groupie and you don't want to fall that into that trap."

Merchant announced his first stand-up tour earlier this month after a number of one-off gigs over the past two years.

Merchant is no stranger to the stage though, having started his career as a stand-up before being lured into radio presenting with XFM – where he met Ricky Gervais in 2001.

The new tour is set to hit the ground running on September 6 in glamorous Swindon before heading across the UK for 41 dates.

If you think Mrs Merchant has a certain ring to it you can find Merchant in Swindon on September 6th where the Hello Ladies tour kicks off, before heading across the UK for 41 dates.

Ricky Gervais: Will Arnett Should Join 'The Office'
By Brent Lang - TheWrap.com
February 9, 2011

Is Gob Bluth joining Dunder Mifflin?

Ricky Gervais took time out from heckling the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to offer casting suggestions to NBC brass this week.

"The Office" creator revealed that he thinks Will Arnett should bring his comic buffoonery to the American version of the popular sitcom.

"Had a little meeting with NBC about various things and recommended Will Arnett for a regular in The Office. Thoughts? I think he's amazing," Gervais wrote on his blog.

Though Gervais didn't say what role he wanted Arnett to play on "The Office," it seems safe to assume he would replace outgoing star Steve Carell.

Of course, it could just be a red herring. Since Carell announced that he would be leaving the fictional paper company to concentrate on his big-screen career rumors have swirled that he would be replaced by everyone from Harvey Keitel to Gervais himself.

Arnett makes sense to fill Carell's shows though. As "Arrested Development" and a regular guest stint on "30 Rock" prove, Arnett has the self-important schtick down pat.

HFPA: 'Highly Unlikely' Ricky Gervais Will Be Invited Back as Globes Host Feb 01, 2011Carell Leaving 'The Office'? It's OK ... NBC Has a Plan Jun 29, 2010.

On the minus side, Arnett is fresh off the chronically unfunny and mercifully cancelled "Running Wilde."

The Press Association: Ricky Gervais' Globes offer denied
February 2, 2011

(UKPA) – Ricky Gervais has promised to be just as controversial if he is invited back to host the Golden Globes, as organisers denied claims he had been offered a third stint.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Globes, said there was "no truth in the rumour" he had been offered another go.

The denial came after Ricky, writing for Heat magazine, said organisers asked him to "consider a third year" but he was inclined to turn it down. Writing on his blog, the British comic explained: "You may also have read that I am hosting next year's Golden Globes. This is not true. Not yet anyway.

"The TV show organisers said they were happy with everything and asked me to not rule out a third gig.

"However, it is not entirely up to them. The Hollywood Foreign Press and various other committees need to meet and agree.

"Also, even if they did want me back, at the moment I'm pretty sure I shouldn't do it.

"But I'll tell you this. If they do invite me back and I accept, I'm going to pull exactly the same s*** again or even worse."

Ricky sparked much controversy and debate after delivering a string of acerbic put-downs while hosting the awards ceremony last month.

Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk denied claims Gervais was offered a third stint as host, saying: "There is no truth to this rumour. We have not asked him to come back. Nice try, Ricky."

Ricky said the discussion took place with an executive at NBC, the network that aired the awards show. He told the Hollywood Reporter: "At no point did I talk to The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. I'm absolutely sure they don't want me back."

BBC News - Golden Globes 'ask Ricky Gervais back'
February 1, 2011

Comedian Ricky Gervais has been "asked to consider" hosting the Golden Globes for a third year, his spokeswoman has told the BBC.

The 49-year-old received mixed reviews for hosting last month's ceremony after poking fun at various celebrities.

"The ratings went up again and the organisers asked me to consider a third year," Gervais told Heat magazine.

It has also been confirmed that he will return to US cartoon The Simpsons - as an awards host.

His first appearance was in 2006 in the episode, Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife, which he also wrote.

Gervais told Heat he would not return as the Globes presenter again but stood by his last performance.

"I don't know what I could do better," he told the magazine.

"I certainly couldn't get more press for them, that's for sure."

He said the "staggering" response included being talked about on news channels and chat shows "for weeks".

A spokesperson for Globes organiser the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was not available for comment.

During the evening, Gervais introduced Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr - who has a history of drug problems - by saying: "Many of you in this room probably know him best from such facilities as the Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County Jail."

Speaking before the show, Gervais told reporters on the red carpet that he would "go just close enough to the edge but not go over it".

Television - News - Gervais 'unsure about Office future'
By Morgan Jeffery, TV Reporter
Digital Spy.com
January 21, 2011

Ricky Gervais has admitted that he is unsure if NBC's The Office should continue without Steve Carell.

Carell first announced his intention to quit the sitcom in May last year and will depart the role of inept boss Michael Scott later this season.

In an interview on Piers Morgan Tonight, Gervais suggested: "[The show] can survive. Whether it should or not, I don't know."

The comic, who created the original Office and serves as an executive producer on the NBC version, reaffirmed his support for Carell's decision to leave.

"As a producer, I was expected to try and stop him because he is a big part of it," he explained. "(But) I sent him an e-mail saying, 'I think you are doing the right thing'."

Gervais recently revealed that he had filmed a cameo appearance in an upcoming episode of The Office as a "little thanks" to Carell.

"I bump into Steve Carell, it's a little thing," he told Morgan.

The Office airs on Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

BBC News - Ricky Gervais plays down Golden Globe furore
January 21, 2011

British comedian Ricky Gervais has defended jokes he made about Hollywood stars at Sunday's Golden Globes, insisting he did nothing wrong.

The Office star received mixed reviews as the award ceremony's host, after making jokes about Charlie Sheen, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.

"If they didn't want me, they shouldn't have hired me," he told Piers Morgan on his new US talk show.

"I don't think I did anything wrong," the 49-year-old said.

"I'm not going to apologise for being true to myself. My strategy is to make me laugh. If there's anyone in the world like me, that's a bonus."

At one stage during the evening, Gervais introduced Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr - who has a history of drug problems - saying: "Many of you in this room probably know him best from such facilities as the Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County Jail."

Morgan asked Gervais whether he cared about what the stars might be going through in their private lives.

"I'm not judging them for what they did," Gervais said on the CNN programme.

"I'm confronting the elephant in the room. Like, I'm going to go out there and not talk about the issues in their industry.

"Don't forget, I've got to be an outsider there. I mustn't come out there as everyone's mate and schmooze - that's nauseating. I've got to come out there, and I've got to roast them."

The comic insisted that he only accepted the job on the condition that he could say what he wanted.

During the ceremony, viewers speculated whether Gervais had been asked to calm his performance down, after he disappeared from stage for nearly an hour.

But Gervais denied that was the case, insisting that he did "every single introduction I was meant to. There just happened to be a long gap".

The Press Association: Gervais for US remake of The Office
January 20, 2011

(UKPA) - Ricky Gervais is to make a guest appearance in the US version of The Office, playing blundering boss David Brent.

The comic will come face-to-face with Steve Carell who plays his counterpart, Michael Scott, in the US remake of the hit BBC show.

Writing on his blog, Ricky confirmed the news and said: "Blink and you'll miss it, but just a little thanks to Steve Carell. A pleasure to work with the great man."

The British star became a worldwide name when he co-wrote, directed and starred in the original version of The Office as the well-meaning but foolish Brent.

Earlier this week, he was criticised for delivering a string of acerbic put-downs while hosting the Golden Globes.

Ricky was condemned for making near-the-knuckle jokes at the expense of shocked Hollywood A-listers in the audience.

He cracked jokes about Charlie Sheen and Robert Downey Jr and also talked about Scientology and gay celebrities pretending to be straight while hosting the show.

Alec Baldwin was seen wiping a tear from his eye at the wisecracks, while Robert De Niro, who was handed a lifetime achievement award, dissolved in laughter.

But the New York Daily News called him "tasteless, bordering on nasty", while the LA Times said his jokes set "a corrosive tone" for the night.

Ricky Gervais to appear on ’The Office’ as David Brent
Examiner.com
January 20, 2011

Ricky Gervais is set to reprise his role as office manager David Brent from the original British version of "The Office" in the Jan. 27 episode of the NBC remake. According to Vulture, Gervais' character is expected to somehow cross paths with his American counterpart, Steve Carell's Michael Scott, in a "small cameo" appearance during the show's cold open.

"It's a little more than if you blink, you'll miss it, but if you don't set your TiVo right, you'll miss it," said 'Office' show-runner Paul Lieberstein. "Ricky had wanted to do something [with the U.S. Office] and it felt like we shouldn't go the whole series without them connecting."

The top secret cameo has been kept under wraps since filming of the scene took place in September. While Lieberstein admits it was difficult to bring the two office managers together in a way that made sense, they ultimately decided to have them meet outside of Dunder-Mifflin.

"It's outside of the office, and it's just the two of them interacting," he says. "It's just a little nod to Steve and his final year."

The recent Golden Globes host is not only the creator and star of the original series, but also serves as executive producer and has written one episode of the U.S. adaptation, though he has never appeared on screen.

The episode featuring Ricky Gervais will air Thursday, Jan. 27 on NBC at 9/8c.

CBC News - Television - Gervais gets cameo on NBC's The Office
January 20, 2011

British actor Ricky Gervais will make a cameo next week on the U.S. version of The Office, playing the character he created for the original British series.

Gervais will reprise the role of acerbic paper salesman David Brent, who drops into the Dunder-Mifflin office run by Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell. The show will air Jan. 27.

Carell is in his final season on the U.S. version of the comedy Thursdays on NBC.

Gervais, who was criticized by many in Hollywood for his insults while hosting the weekend Golden Globes, is an executive producer of the American series. One of his Golden Globe insults was aimed at Carell, calling him "ungrateful" for leaving a show that made both of them great.

The British version of The Office ran just two seasons, but catapulted Gervais to fame in the role of the patronizing and offensive Brent.

It has been remade in France, Germany, Brazil and Israel, as well as the U.S.

Gervais made no apologies for his Golden Globe remarks, which were also jabbed at Charlie Sheen, Cher and the Hollywood Press Association itself, in an interview Thursday with CNN's Piers Morgan.

"I don't think I did anything wrong," Gervais said. "Those were like gibes at these people, and I'm sure they've got a sense of humour."

Gervais said his job as host was not to "come out there as everyone's mate and schmooze" but to roast Hollywood.

Gervais said he wasn't mocking people. But in mentioning Robert Downey Jr.'s stints in the Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County Jail, "I'm confronting the elephant in the room."

Piers Morgan's interview with Gervais airs at 9 p.m. ET on CNN.

BBC News - Ricky Gervais to make cameo in US version of The Office
January 20, 2011

Comedian Ricky Gervais is to reprise his David Brent character from The Office on the US version of the show.

Gervais, who attracted controversy on Sunday as host of the Golden Globes, will make a brief appearance as Brent on 27 January.

Co-created by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office was a hit in the UK before it was remade in the US by NBC.

Steve Carell plays Brent's counterpart in the US version, Michael Scott.

Gervais, 49, is an executive producer on The Office, now in its seventh series.

The British original ran for two series before signing off with two Christmas specials.

Charlie Sheen, Bruce Willis and Robert Downey Jr were among the celebrities Gervais poked fun at during his controversial second stint as Golden Globes host.

Yet in an interview on Piers Morgan's CNN chat show, to be shown in the US on Thursday, Gervais is unrepentant.

"It's not my job to worry about what people think of me," he will be heard saying. "That's the job of a politician.

"They hired me for a job," he continues. "If they didn't want me, they shouldn't have hired me."

Golden Globes Host Ricky Gervais Divides Critics As He Targets The Hollywood A-List
By Elizabeth Scott
Showbiz News: Sky News
January 17, 2011

Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais once again polarised opinion as he took biting swipes at Hollywood in what is expected to be his last gig presenting the awards.

The comedian, who presented the awards for the second year running, kicked off the show with a long monologue picking on the likes of Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Cher, Hugh Heffner, scientology and Sex and the City.

He began by taking a dig at Charlie Sheen.

"It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast," he said.

He went on to slam Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie's new film, saying: "It seems like everything this year was three dimensional - except the characters in The Tourist."

Many in the audience seemed to laugh along. Robert De Niro, who was handed a lifetime achievement award, dissolved into laughter - but others looked uncomfortable.

While introducing Robert Downey Jnr to the stage, Gervais managed to mention his internet porn flick and stints in jail and rehab.

At the podium, the Sherlock Holmes actor commented on the mood of the ceremony.

"Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister overtones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good, wouldn't you?"

Backstage after the event, he went further. "I think it's great to be funny," he said. "But it's better if you can do it without hurting people."

In an interview last week, Gervais promised he would come out "guns blazing" and indicated this could be his last Golden Globes.

Speaking about his performance last year, the comedian said: "I don't think I went far enough. So I'm going to do it again, do a proper job. And I guarantee they will not invite me back."

Some critics are hoping he does not return.

David Hinckley from The New York Daily News said Gervais' humour was "uncomfortable".

He added: "Those jokes might have seemed just slightly redundant and dated if the audience hadn't also clearly found them tasteless bordering on nasty."

But some UK film critics have disagreed, with James King telling Sky News Gervais was "a very good choice of presenter".

He said: "He is slightly controversial because he does just let go, he doesn't hold back at all."

Mark Eccelson described Gervais as one of the "biggest winners of the night" and thought his jokes were "hysterical".

He added: "It was one of the bitchiest awards speeches, as a monologue, I have ever seen.

"Gervais is turning the Golden Globes, which has a habit of taking itself too seriously, into a good old-fashioned, quite crude roast, and if that is the way it is going to go, he is the only presenter.

"It will really be dependent on him whether he wants to do it again."

During the ceremony Gervais disappeared for an hour leading to speculation on Twitter that he had been fired midway through.

"Gervais not seen for an hour now," new CNN host Piers Morgan tweeted.

Some questioned whether he had been killed, possibly by scientologists after they were the butt of his jokes.

When Gervais returned he seemed subdued, leaving people wondering whether he had been told off for his earlier jokes and told to tone it down.

Morgan wrote: "1st question when Gervais appears - what the hell did they do to you backstage for an hour? He looks haunted."

Cast of "Characters" Left to Right: Gareth, David, Tim, Dawn

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