A-listers in the firing line as Ricky Gervais returns to host the Golden Globes

Fasten your seat belts for the 73rd Golden Globe Awards as the fearless host sharpens his tongue in the hopes of, once again, turning this celebration of the best in American film and TV into a Hollywood roast.

Fourth-time host Ricky Gervais. NBC / NBCU via Getty Images

You do not need a judge and jury to declare Ricky Gervais a habitual offender when it comes to cutting celebrities down to size.

In fact, with the hyper-inflated egos of some stars, one could argue the sultan of snide performs a valuable public service by popping the pomposity of Hollywood royalty for global laughs.

Not only should a good host keep the audience on their toes, but a frisson of fear of being singled out for ridicule goes a long way towards livening up the proceedings. With the millions they pocket for dressing up and playing make-believe, surely the celebs can take a joke? Right..? The look on some of the faces during Gervais’s previous stints hosting the awards suggest otherwise.

Indeed, Gervais, the British funnyman who co-created and starred in the original UK version of The Office, hasn't always received the warmest of welcomes at the Golden Globes.

After hosting the awards in 2010, 2011 and 2012, many believed he finally wore out his welcome with the organisers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, during his last appearance with his daring and scathing jokes, including one about Justin Bieber’s paternity lawsuit.

In the aftermath of 2012, Gervais grumbled that he never wanted to be talked into hosting again – but after three years of the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler show, his number has come up, again, with a vengeance.

“I said ‘no’ but they kept trying to persuade me,” Gervais blogged. “I just thought it was a headache I didn’t need. They eventually won through attrition, flattery and generosity. Oh, they also said I can say whatever I want again. I’m glad I said yes, now, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

In fact, the 54-year-old may also be something of a psychic. Last week, he tweeted his apologies, in advance, to the targets of his imminent comedy wrath.

“Because I can see the future, I’d like to apologise now for the things I said at next week’s Golden Globes,” he wrote.