Ricky Gervais' Oscar no

Dec 3, 2008, 11:05 GMT

Ricky Gervais doesn\'t want to host the Oscars because he would have to censor his humour. © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Ricky Gervais doesn't want to host the Oscars because he would have to censor his humour.

The British comic star - who recently confirmed he had been approached to host the prestigious annual film awards ceremony - insists he would refuse to alter his controversial jokes for the February event.

He said: "In all honesty, I don't think it will happen. Americans do get my humour but, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, the Oscars isn't about comedy. It's about a bunch of people turning up to see if they have won an award.

"It's a historic, stuffy thing and I would want to have fun with it and I don't think they would want me to do that. I wouldn't be allowed to do what I wanted and it would be no fun for me reading from an autocue. I'd want to do it my way."

Ricky - who recently starred in movie 'Ghost Town' and can next be seen in 'This Side of the Truth' opposite Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman - also said he is proud of his comedic talents and isn't afraid to shock people.

He added to Britain's The Sun newspaper: "You have to go a long way to be controversial these days. I don't single out individual people and if I think it oversteps the mark I take it out. The subject matter I do shocks people enough.

"Some people take it the wrong way but I'm not going to change and do safe comedy to please certain people. People know I'm taboo. It's what I do. I'm not taking the p**s out of race of disability or cancer."