Gervais to return as Golden Globes host

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais will serve as host of the Golden Globes ceremony in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a third time, organizers said Wednesday.

Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Aida Takla O'Reilly said the group voted overwhelmingly to invite Gervais back.

"Ricky is delighted to be coming back. He said the Golden Globes show is the most fun he has ever had," Doug Vaughan, NBC's senior vice president of special events and late night programming, said in a statement.

The Golden Globes awards ceremony honoring the best in film and television for 2011 is to be held Jan. 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Gervais' second stint as master of ceremonies of the awards show last January was blasted by some critics who felt his jokes about celebrities and the association were too harsh. However, the creator and star of "The Office" and "Extras" did not apologize for his behavior, stating it was all in the spirit of fun.