Kelowna

Photo: Contributed - BANG Showbiz

Ricky Gervais has wished Tina Fey and Amy Poehler the best of luck when they host the Golden Globe Awards next year.

The former 'Saturday Night Live' duo are taking over hosting duties from Ricky for the 2013 ceremony and the outspoken comedian hopes they do a great job.

The 'Extras' star - who helmed proceedings in 2010, 2011 and 2012 - said in a statement: "Good luck to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes.

"After failing three years in a row to make E! Channel's Best Dressed list, I decided to hand over the reins. Let me know if you run out of Scientology gags."

Ricky caused much controversy as host and took the opportunity to mercilessly ridicule the star-studded audience each year.

In 2012, he made jibes about Jodie Foster's sexual orientation and Justin Bieber's paternity scandal, which was eventually proven to be a false claim.

In 2011, the 51-year-old comedian poked fun at Robert Downey Jr's drug use and mocked Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp for their performance in 2010 film The Tourist.

Referring to 'The Tourist', he said: "Seems like everything this year was three-dimensional. Except the characters in 'The Tourist'.

"I tell you what, I'm jumping on the bandwagon, because I haven't even seen The Tourist. Who has?"

After the 2012 ceremony Ricky decided he wouldn't return for a fourth stint because there was nothing left for him to do at the awards.

He wrote on his official blog at the time: "Thank f**k that's over. I had a blast actually. It was by far my favourite of the three hosting stints.

"I've told my agent to never let me be persuaded to do it again though. It's like a parachute jump. You can only really enjoy it in retrospect when you realise you didn't die and it was quite an amazing thing to do."