You can always count on comedian Ricky Gervais to go for the jugular.
But A-listers at the Golden Globes – where Brits including Helena Bonham Carter, Taron Egerton and Emily Watson are up for 27 gongs – have failed to see their host’s funny side.
They’ve even asked to be moved out of front row seats to escape his blistering attacks.
An insider told how “at least four household names” rearranged the allocated seating.
Ricky, 58, has upset a load of big stars during previous ceremonies, including Ben Affleck, Ashton Kutcher, Elton John and Charlie Sheen.
At the 2016 awards, he was slammed for being transphobic after cracking a joke about transgender reality star Caitlyn Jenner.
A source at the event, to be broadcast live by NBC from LA’s Beverly Hilton Hotel, reveals: “Normally big stars clamour for the best seats. But at least four household names have switched from front row seats.
"The feeling is although he writes his monologue in advance, anyone in his line of vision might fall victim to a withering put-down.”
But Ricky, hosting for the fifth time, insists he’ll play nicely this year.
He also says he regrets mocking Tim Allen when the Home Improvement actor presented with Tom Hanks in 2011.
Back then, he quipped: “The first is an actor, producer, writer and director, whose movies grossed $3.5bn at the box office.
"He’s won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes for his powerful, varied performances… the other is Tim Allen.”
But in another interview he snarled: “I don’t care who hates me. I don’t care about anyone in the room.”
Go Ricky. Bring it on.
