Ricky Gervais will return to host the Golden Globes for the fourth time in six years.
The HFPA made the announcement on Twitter.
Gervais’ return comes less than a week after the Academy revealed that Chris Rock, another edgy comedian, would host the Oscars in February.
“We’re excited to have Ricky Gervais back to host the most enjoyable awards show of the season in his own inimitable way,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt in a statement. “Disarming and surprising, Ricky is ready to honor — and send up — the best work of the year in film and television. Fasten your seats belts.”
Gervais, who hosted the Globes for three consecutive years from 2010-2012, will take over for co-hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who also saw a three-year stint.
The Emmy-winning star of “The Office” and Netflix’s “Derek” had previously sworn off hosting the Globes again after his controversial jokes, which included a dig at Jodie Foster’s sexuality, raised a few eyebrows at the Beverly Hilton ceremony.
“Actors aren’t just loved here in Hollywood, they are loved the world over,” he said in 2012, holding one of his trademark pints of beer. “You could be a little Asian child with no possessions and no money. But you could see a picture of Angelina Jolie and you’d think, ‘Mummy!’”
Gervais later responded to the backlash by saying, “I’ve told my agent to never let me be persuaded to do it again though. It’s like a parachute jump.”
But his final hosting stint drew mostly positive reviews and nearly 17 million viewers, which NBC noted in its press release.
“What will he say? What will he do? We can’t wait to find out, and we are so happy that he’s back!,” said Barry Adelman, Exec. V.P., Television for Dick Clark productions and executive producer of the 73rd Golden Globes, which will be held Jan. 10 at the Beverly Hilton hotel.
Nominations for the 2016 Globes, voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be announced Dec. 10.
