Aside from jabs at Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler and Helen Mirren (and a jokey one directed at Johnny Depp), Gervais was a lot tamer overall. This year he spoke about films and television he’d genuinely enjoyed (Boardwalk Empire and Bridesmaids) and read out the list of rules the Hollywood Foreign Press gave him, shortly before taking a humorous shot at them as well.

The whole thing is on YouTube, and we’ve embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. You’re in for a few shock jokes, but overall he’s made fewer personal jibes in terms of the audience attending the event.

Okay people, quick refresher course on what happened last year. Ready? Here goes:

Seen that? See how brutal that was? That’s what they’ve got in store this time. Only in 2012, Ricky’s one condition of doing the Golden Globes gig was this: they couldn’t know what he was going to say in advance. The organisers must be terrified. And believe me, the press are giggling with excitement (for the most part).

Possible jokes could include a whole range of films this year, and there’ll be the usual digs at those who made films Gervais feels are somewhat sub-par, and of course, the inevitable slamming of people’s personal lives – which is not really where good comedy lies, given how intrusive he can be. But the film talk? All good. Until this Sunday! Or Monday, if you’re like us and don’t fancy watching it at about 2AM!

You hear that? That is the sound of a thousand celebrities quaking in their boots. Why? Because Ricky Gervais pulls no punches whatsoever, and his jokes are absolutely brutal. Let’s review his previous opening monologue:

You see? Brutal. But incredibly funny, simply because he’s not ridiculing what they’ve been through (addiction is addiction, and he’s not a nasty person), but targeting the whole idea that they see themselves as immune to any form of criticism, because they’re A-list stars, despite doing many things that would see anyone but an A-lister in jail before the night was out.

This year, who knows? It’s not like he’s got a shortage of material, and although I’m sure Billy Crystal will do a lovely job at the Oscars, I think we know which one we’re more likely to remember. So until then, get comfortable, and watch the master of piss-taking, well, take the piss.

I’d love to see him do it again, as I think Gervais is one of the most honest, frank people in show business, and unlike quite a few of them has really earned his place with work like The Office, Extras, An Idiot Abroad, The Ricky Gervais Show and his stand-up tours. With a dark sense of humour and an endearing self-deprecating wit, he is an ideal host simply because it’s a shock to those expecting the simpering autocue platitudes uttered by the more conventionally minded.

However, to say he didn’t offend anyone would be ludicrous. Although most took it very well, with Johnny Depp in particular appearing in a sketch about fake animosity on Gervais’ new project, Life’s Too Short, things are tense in the Golden Globe camp. If the organisers nearly had a heart attack, they should’ve done a little research first.

This year, there’s a similar spate of lacklustre films that will no doubt drag hordes of Hollywood stars to the venue in the hope they’ll be honoured for their work. I can only hope Ricky is waiting for them, as it’s nice to see if people can take the punches if they’re willing to associate themselves with films that aren’t up to much, to say the least. If Gervais isn’t chosen, however, he’s thinking of doing a podcast with a few celebrity friends, recorded live as the event takes place, which should be nothing short of hilarious. Either way, the viewer wins, right?

‘Cheggers’, as he is somewhat affectionately known, is one of those celebrities for whom public nostalgia towards 1970s’ TV presenters seems to have worked wonders. He’ll be the reason why the majority of people go to see this film and, to his credit, he is probably the best thing in it.

Chegwin plays the presenter of an outdoor segment on a live breakfast TV show, reminiscent of his days as the real-life host of The Big Breakfast‘s ‘Down Your Doorstep’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he’s great at it – many of his scenes feel like they could have been lifted straight from Chegwin’s show-reel, and it is invariably his on screen appearances which tend to lift the pace of this entire film.

The plot, however, which was written by the film’s director Andy Thompson, is almost unbearably tongue-in-cheek at times, and centres around fictional breakfast TV show, ‘The Crack of Dawn’. The presenter is, of course, called Dawn (played by 4.3.2.1‘s Susannah Fielding), giving rise to a plethora of ‘crack’ puns, which seem to set the standard for much of the humour in the film. Dawn’s co-presenter is leaving the show, and a number of other well-known personalities are rumoured to be lined up as his replacement – except that, one by one, they begin to be gruesomely killed off by a murdered, dubbed the Breakfast Cereal Killer (another pun, geddit?).

Kill Keith perhaps suffers from the comparisons which will undoubtedly be made with films such as Shaun of the Dead – whose shoes it is far from filling in terms of offering that seamless blend between horror and comedy. The film’s been given a 15 certificate, which seems about right given the torturous nature of radio DJ Tony Blackburn and comedian Joe Pasquale’s on-screen murders. The trouble is that the comedy aspect of the film pitches it’s humour at a level which is, for the most part, aimed at an age much younger than this.

It’s not that the jokes aren’t there, it’s just that they aren’t particularly sophisticated – but then, from a gore-fest centred around Keith Chegwin, what did you expect? Admittedly, there are one or two which simply don’t work – Tony Blackburn actually playing his double, rather than himself, being just one example – and these become rather laboured after about twenty minutes or so. The film also relies far too heavily on Chegwin’s casting as an upbeat and squeaky-clean celeb’ – something which may have been slightly tainted by his (much funnier) appearance on Ricky Gervais’ Extras back in 2006, if nothing else.

The sub-plot, which sees The Crack of Dawn runner, Danny – played by Marc Pickering, who was last seen on the big screen in Calendar Girls – desperately trying to win the heart of the lovely Dawn certainly has its endearing moments. On the whole, however, Kill Keith is slightly clumsy affair, and despite a few mildly amusing cameos, it is unlikely to achieve the cult status to which it might have aspired without far more sophisticated scripting, and perhaps slightly less reliance on Cheggers himself.

Kill Keith hits UK cinemas on 11th November 2011.

Check out our interview with Keith Chegwin here.

It’s difficult to tell whether or not Chegwin really is exceptionally excited about his part in Kill Keith, or whether his cheery demeanour is simply a by-product of his years spent presenting breakfast television. I suspect it’s a bit of both.

“I did lots of movies when I was a kid,” he tells me, “I did Roman Polanski‘s Macbeth, I did Robin Hood Junior, but then to be asked to make a feature film now… oh my God!”

It seems that despite having been given a cameo appearance in Ricky Gervais’ 2006 series of Extras, Chegwin is relatively unaware of his own popularity. Having received a fair bit of negative press over the years, many people these days seem to view him with the same a sense of nostalgia reserved for the childhood TV shows which he presented, such as Swap Shop and Cheggers Plays Pop. It is perhaps, then, less surprising than he might expect to hear that the film’s director, Andy Thompson, recruited him for the role before the script was even written.

“I bumped into Andy Thompson, and he said ‘I’ve got an idea for a movie,’” he explains, “I said, ‘What’s that?’ and he said, ‘It’s called Kill Keith!’” He stops to chuckle to himself, clearly a fan of the film’s irony. “But [Thompson] went away and came back with a script, which I personally laughed my head off at.”

He’s not lying either. While it remains to be seen whether or not the public find this film quite as funny, it’s clear that Chegwin thoroughly enjoyed his dual role in this dark horror-comedy. Yet despite the fact that Kill Keith seems keen to ham up the perils of breakfast television, Chegwin points out that much of the humour is, in fact, in-keeping with his own personal experiences.

“I do think the underlying thing is, there is a lot of backstabbing in morning TV – but this stabbing [in Kill Keith] is a little bit more pointed! We’ve got the phone scam, that’s in, we’ve got people’s egos, that’s in, the light-heartedness, but at the same time someone wants to be number one on the show… that’s always been prevalent, when I’ve done The Big Breakfast, through to GMTV.”

With this wealth of experience behind him, it’s little wonder that Chegwin appears extremely at ease on screen. However, he reveals that he actually found acting to be somewhat different from the presenter roles in which he is more commonly seen.

“I found playing myself more difficult – I really had to think ‘what does Keith Chegwin do?!’ We did a few takes of me running up and down the road and Andy said, ‘Er, just a bit tighter, like you do when you’re normally on telly,’ and it clicked, I went ‘Oh yeah, ok!’”

There are a number of scenes which are a millions miles from Cheggers as we know him. I wonder aloud how much persuading it took for him to film the leather-clad pole-dancing scene, for example.

“Quite a lot actually! I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s me Mum going to say?’ But you know what, I just thought, it’s in the spirit of the movie… if the script requires it, then I’ll do it!”

“The only thing I won’t ever do again is take me clothes off!” he admits – a reference to the Channel 5 game show, Naked Jungle, which he reportedly volunteered to present in the nude.

Although deciding against being involved in the writing of Kill Keith, there’s no denying that this film largely revolves around Chegwin’s own career and persona. Indeed, aside from his own role, it soon emerges that he has has an impact on other areas of the film, with many of his co-stars being lifted straight out of his personal phonebook.

“Andy went through my mobile phone saying, ‘Oh I like him, we’ll have him!’ Joe Pasquale I worked with on the cabaret circuit for years, Russell Grant and I worked together when we were fifteen years of age in a West End stage show called Tom Brown’s School Days, along with Simon Le Bon. Tony Blackburn and I used to present shows on Radio 1. I was quite worried about what their performances were going to be like, and they were quite worried about what my performance was going to be like! But I think everybody put in 100%, so I’m really pleased with what we’ve done.”

One thing that becomes increasingly evident during our discussion is that Chegwin is not ungrateful for the opportunities which he has been given over the years. After all, there are plenty of ex-television presenters who rarely continue to appear on screens so many decades later, except for the odd stint on celebrity-based reality television shows. Perhaps Chegwin has simply been lucky – that certainly seems to be his, rather endearing, interpretation of events.

“I luckily did Extras with Ricky Gervais, and it was quite funny because he turned around to me and said ‘Look, I’ve got a part for you to play in Extras… I don’t want Keith Chegwin, I want you to play a role.’ I suddenly thought, Oh my gosh, that’s quite a responsibility really, isn’t it? It was nice to be asked to do Life’s Too Short, the new series with Ricky Gervais. I was so shocked when Ricky said, ‘I know you did Extras, but I want you to do this as well,’ – I’m going, ‘Bloomin’ heck!’”

Chegwin’s somewhat unexpected favour amongst Gervais and his team certainly seems to have opened up a number of opportunities. It’s no surprise that he was keen to work with Gervais for the second time; he’s undoubtedly a big fan.

“[Gervais] writes such blimmin great material and he’s – how do I explain it? – he’s a real generous performer,” he explains, still as enthusiastic as ever.

“Like, if you think of something funnier, which I haven’t done, but I’ve seen other people on the set do it, he goes ‘Oh yeh, do it!’ He wants to make you shine, which is unusual, because normally comics want to make themselves shine – so they take all the best lines, and look the best and get the greatest parts. With Ricky Gervais, his whole ambition is just to make fantastic series’ where everybody does the greatest cameo they can.”

It seems ideal, yet Chegwin is not without any sense any responsibility for the chances which he’s been given, and I find myself hoping that the critical reaction to his upcoming work is more positive than that which some of his previous projects.

“It’s nice that people like Andy Thompson and Gervais and Steve Merchant and that are willing to trust you… they’re actually trusting their production on you. Which is a hell of a worry, isn’t it?”

Yes, I imagine it is.

Kill Keith is out in UK cinemas from 11th November.

Check out our review here.

An English playboy living in America, Arthur stands to receive a $950 million inheritance – as long as he marries heiress Susan Johnson, played by Jennifer Garner. Unfortunately, he’s fallen for the charms of a tour guide, played by Greta Gerwig – forcing him to make the choice between love and money.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to take a look at a few other films which have seen British characters at large in the United States. Here are are few of our favourites…

Portman, who is both newly engaged and pregnant, was named best actress for her role in Black Swan. Firth received best actor for his portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech.

The awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture were received by Melissa Leo and Christian Bale both for The Fighter. All four actors, Portman, Firth, Leo and Bale also received awards at the Critics’ Choice Awards on Friday. Could they get a hat-trick at the Oscars?

The Golden Globes were hosted by Ricky Gervais, who caused his usual amount of controversy, although it is thought he may have gone too far this time, in particular with a joke he made about Scientology. Referring to the film I Love You Phillip Morris, Gervais said it was about “two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay – so the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then.”

Aside from the drama caused by Gervais, it was definitely drama that stole the show. The Social Network, which tells the story of Facebook was awarded Best Motion Picture – Drama, as well as Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Original Score.

In television it was without doubt Glee that came out on top, winning Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television went to Jane Lynch and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television went to Chris Colfer.

The full list of the 2011 Golden Globe Award winners are as follows:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• The Social Network

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
• Natalie Portman, Black Swan

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
• Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

• Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
• The Kids Are All Right

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
• Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
• Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• Melissa Leo, The Fighter

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• Christian Bale, The Fighter

• Best Director – Motion Picture
• David Fincher, The Social Network

• Best Television Series – Drama
• Boardwalk Empire

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
• Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
• Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

• Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
• Glee

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
• Laura Linney, The Big C

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

• Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Carlos

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Claire Danes, Temple Grandin

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Jane Lynch, Glee

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Chris Colfer, Glee

• Best Screenplay
• Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

• Best Original Song
• You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me from Burlesque

• Best Original Score
• The Social Network

• Best Foreign Language Film
• In a Better World, Denmark

• Best Animated Feature
• Toy Story 3

It might not be due to reach cinemas until Christmas 2011, but with the cast confirmations continuing to roll it, how could we not start to get excited about the new Muppet film?

Back in March it was announced that I Love you, Man‘s Jason Segel had signed on to play the human lead, having co-written the script with Nicholas Stoller, who previously worked with Segel on Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Segel will play Gary, who joins his friend, a Muppet named Walter, in an attempt to reunite the old Muppet gang. If they succeed, they will be able to stop an evil oil tycoon from drilling underneath the TV studio where the original Muppet show was filmed.

In October it was announced that Leap Year‘s Amy Adams had been cast in the role of Gary’s girlfriend, with Rashida Jones and Chris Cooper joining them as a network executive and the lead antagonist, respectively.

Further details which have since been released confirm that Jack Black will appear as a kidnap victim, Alan Arkin will play a tour guide and Zach Galifianakis is taking on the role of hobo Joe.

Michael Cera, who we last saw in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, is reportedly being considered for the voice of Walter, whilst Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kristen Schaal have also been confirmed to appear.

Other ‘slebs rumoured to be making an appearance include Sean Penn, Donald Glover and even Lady Gaga! Of course, we’re still looking forward to seeing the likes of Kermit and Miss Piggy make their return to the big screen, too.

No clues yet as to what roles might be played by Blunt and Gervais, but we’ll certainly keep you posted!

Ricky Gervais is a man of many, many talents. BAFTAs, Golden Globes, The Office, the introduction of Karl Pilkington to the world at large, Extras, Flanimals… suffice to say, he’s not been a lazy comedian.

Science is the latest in his list of four stand-up acts, and from the offset you know it’s going to be just as funny, smart and fascinatingly insightful as the last ones were. Even if you’ve only seen one, or none, it’s hard not to find his self-deprecating sense of humour endearing. He’s open and frank about everything, from his childhood, to the size of his member, to a serious crime he once committed. Though with him, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction, something he relies on in building the audience up and knocking them down repeatedly over the 80 minute-odd running time.

He tackles a variety of issues, and each seems to flow into the next without a single moment’s hesitation or a rather tangential sentence connecting the two. He once again returns to the issue of fat people and political correctness, something he feels passionate about – you may think Frankie Boyle steps over the line more than anyone else, but you’d be wrong. The difference between the two is Frankie’s comedy tends to rely on the fact he’s being taboo, whereas Ricky’s telling jokes and doesn’t care who it offends.

No one is safe from his barrage of criticism, and it’s interesting to see him openly admit to the amount of cash he can spend or discuss his distaste for autograph hunters. Clearly, he’s a funny man and an entertainer, but like every other level-headed celebrity he wants the spotlight to switch off when he goes off-stage. Sadly, it never does, and his increasing fame makes for some amusing situations when he’s constantly accosted by people wanting him to sign endless piles of his own material.

Delving back into Biblical issues again (always a favourite – his dissection of Genesis in Animals was nothing short of legendary), he talks about Noah and the concept of evolution, the 5 million species of animals and the illogical nature of religion. He’s never offensive with his views – bear in mind he spent a significant amount of time as a God-fearing child – but he’s unrelenting in his placement of science above all else.

It’s also interesting to hear an extended version of the brief bits of intelligence and wit we hear in between Karl Pilkington‘s endless verbalised idiocy. Gervais is by no means a stupid man – he’s extremely intelligent, very knowledgeable and is able to back up any point, however controversial it may seem, with a lot of evidence and theories that support his views.

He may not see Science as educational, but it’s hard not to walk away feeling slightly enlightened, although the joke he tells in his encore (c’mon, an encore in stand-up is hardly a spoiler) is likely to ruffle the most relaxed of feathers and reminds you that for all his charm, wit and intellect, he’s still Ricky Gervais, the man responsible for David Brent and his infamous dance.

There’s also a few special features to be had – a wonderful half-hour chat with Karl himself, a bit on New York, and the day Karl met Warwick Davis. That last one has to be seen to be believed. It really is incredible, and hysterically funny.

He’s disturbed, sick, depraved, arrogant, prejudiced, hateful, selfish, and an utter genius when it comes to turning all of that into appealing comedy that will have you bent double with laughter from start to finish. A triumph for the man, and one people will love seeing him improve upon in the many, many coming years of his career.