At last year’s Golden Globe Awards, host Ricky Gervais found himself wiped off more than one celebrity holiday card list after making several pointed, caustic — and come on, admit it, hilarious — barbs at the stars’ expense. Afterwards, many Tinseltown insiders said he’d never be invited back to emcee the event. They were wrong.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Gervais will return for a third stint as Golden Globes host on January 15.

The HFPA said the association “voted overwhelmingly” for the controversial British comedian’s return, but added “not everyone is happy with the decision because last year his blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities caused anger and resentment in some quarters.”

Gervais himself was said to be reluctant to return but “gradually warmed to the idea” after meeting with HFPA president Dr. Aida Takla-O’Reilly in Paris.

Doug Vaughan, senior vice president of special events and late night programming at NBC, which airs the awards show, said, “Ricky is delighted to be coming back. He said the Golden Globes show is the most fun he has ever had.”

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