Ricky Gervais during the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills last month
Organisers of Hollywood's Golden Globes awards have denied comedian Ricky Gervais' claim that they had asked him to host the event for a third year.
The British star had said that despite the acrimony over his recent job hosting the glitzy acting awards, he was asked to consider returning next year.
In a diary of his experience for Heat magazine, Ricky said organisers asked him to "consider a third year", but he was inclined to turn it down.
"I don't think I should," he wrote. "I don't know what I could do better. I certainly couldn't get more press for them, that's for sure."
But the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Globes, denied such an offer was made.
"There is no truth to this rumour," association president Philip Berk said. "We have not asked him to come back. Nice try, Ricky."
Gervais later said the discussion took place with an executive at NBC, the network that aired the awards show.
"At no point did I talk to The Hollywood Foreign Press Association," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm absolutely sure they don't want me back."
Ricky's hosting job in January - his second time around - quickly became infamous because of the pointed jokes he made about many Hollywood stars.
Berk said earlier that the comic had "definitely crossed the line".