Over the course of Ricky Gervais' career he's repeatedly made us laugh, cry and gasp, but arguably some of his most memorable work came amid his appearances at the Golden Globes.
The comedian, who turns 61 today (25 June), has hosted the annual film and TV awards ceremony a total five times over the years, in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Every year Gervais cracked jokes and made pointed comments about society, celebrities and news in opening monologues for the awards show, and every year his quips got more brutal.
When he first hosted the event in 2010, the comedian wasted no time in mocking celebrities for a love of plastic surgery, saying: "Looking at all the wonderful faces here today reminds me of the great work that’s been done this year - by cosmetic surgeons."
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Gervais later expressed hopes he hadn't 'offended anyone', but managed to get in one last quip as he said: "I like a drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man is Mel Gibson."
Gibson has famously previously been arrested for a DUI.
Though controversial, Gervais' performance was enough to get him invited back in 2011, when he joked about Scientology and targeted Charlie Sheen as he said: "It’s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking - or, as Charlie Sheen calls it: breakfast."
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Gervais stepped things up a notch in 2012, when he managed to hit the Royal Family, the Oscars and Eddie Murphy all in one go.
"For any of you who don't know, the Golden Globes are just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem," Gervais joked at the 2012 ceremony.
"The Golden Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton: A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought - allegedly. Nothing’s been proved.
"But who needs the Oscars? Not me. And not Eddie Murphy. He walked out on them. And good for him! But when the man who said 'yes' to Norbit says 'no' to you, you know you're in trouble."
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Following a three-year break, Gervais made an epic comeback in 2016 and made sure to make up for his lost time by immediately addressing the audience as 'disgusting, pill-popping, sexually deviant scum'.
Gervais famously caused controversy that year by referring to Caitlyn Jenner by the name she used prior to her transition, and he left people shocked when he implied he used one of his own Golden Globe awards as a sex toy.
When the 2020 awards ceremony rolled around, Gervais delivered some of his most brutal shots yet, with comments that left even the ever-delightful Tom Hanks looking shocked.
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The comedian was bleeped twice in his speech, which opened with a joke about Judi Dench in Cats that left even Gervais uncomfortable, saying: "I can’t do this next joke... It was the role she was born to play, because she loves nothing better than plunking herself down on the carpet, lifting her leg and licking her own —."
Gervais went on to urge the audience not to use any time on stage to 'make a political speech' as they 'know nothing about the real world' and added: "You say you’re woke but the companies you work for, I mean unbelievable – Apple, Amazon, Disney – if Isis started a streaming service, you’d call your agent."
Gervais told listeners they would be 'pleased to know' his appearance in 2020 would be his last, and stressed that he 'never' cared about his speeches in the first place.
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Years after his stint on the Globes began, fans continue to praise Gervais for the comments he made during his monologues, with many harping back to his jokes as they wish him a happy birthday today.
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Topics: Ricky Gervais, US News, UK News, Viral
