British comedy star Ricky Gervais will host the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards after hosting the event this year.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the news on Thursday. HFPA president Philip Berk praised Gervais, saying the surprising and unpredictable humor he showed this year made him the ideal host for the upcoming ceremony.

Gervais is excited about hosting the event again. "I can't believe they invited me back after the awful things I said," said Gervais. "Let's see how far I can go this time."

The Golden Globe Awards were founded by the HFPA in 1944, and are the second most influential film awards in the United States, after the Oscars. The Golden Globes have been telecast by NBC since 1995. The show's ratings were up 14 percent this year.

The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on January 16, 2011. NBC will telecast live coast-to-coast. Over 160 countries and regions can watch this show on TV.