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Gervais, 58, has sharply divided opinion as
host, taking direct aim at the Hollywood A-listers in the
audience while helping to keep TV viewing figures highs.
"Once again, they've made me an offer I can't refuse," Gervais
said on Tuesday, announcing his return for the 77th edition of
the award show, which honors television and film.
"But this is the very last time I'm doing this, which could make
for a fun evening."
Best known as the creator of TV mockumentary "The Office" and
himself a three-time Golden Globe winner, Gervais first hosted
the event in 2010.
He caused outrage on his second appearance a year later,
insulting organizers with jokes about bribes and taking
pot-shots at Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie's critically-panned
movie "The Tourist", which was on the list of award nominees.
The president of event host the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association said at the time that Gervais would not return.
Paul Teledgy, chairman of NBC Entertainment, which airs the
program, said Gervais's reappearance on Jan. 5 meant viewers
were in for an "unexpected evening".
"There is always a palpable electricity in the room when Ricky
takes the Globes stage," he said. "...We can’t wait to see what
he has up his sleeve."
This year's event, co-hosted by comedian Andy Samberg and
actress Sandra Oh, reached an estimated 18.6 million viewers,
organizers said.
Gervais, who has also toured the world with his stand-up comedy
show, hosted the Globes from 2010 to 2012 and again in 2016.
"They must be mad," he once said of his previous returns.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by John Stonestreet)
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