Gervais: I won't host Oscars

2008-12-04 12:00

London - Ricky Gervais doesn't want to host the Oscars because he would have to censor his humour.

The British comic star - who recently confirmed he had been approached to host the prestigious annual film awards ceremony - insists he would refuse to alter his controversial jokes for the event in February.

"In all honesty, I don't think it will happen. Americans do get my humour but, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, the Oscars isn't about comedy. It's about a bunch of people turning up to see if they have won an award," he said.

"It's a historic, stuffy thing and I would want to have fun with it and I don't think they would want me to do that. I wouldn't be allowed to do what I wanted and it would be no fun for me reading from an autocue. I'd want to do it my way."

Ricky - who recently starred in movie Ghost Town and can next be seen in This Side of the Truth opposite Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman - also said he is proud of his comedic talents and isn't afraid to shock people.

"You have to go a long way to be controversial these days. I don't single out individual people and if I think it oversteps the mark I take it out. The subject matter I do shocks people enough," he added.

"Some people take it the wrong way, but I'm not going to change and do safe comedy to please certain people. People know I'm taboo. It's what I do. I'm not taking the piss out of race of disability or cancer." - Bang Showbiz.com

- Bang