MUMBAI: The Ricky Gervais Show, the animated comedy series based on the podcast, returns to US broadcaster HBO for its 13-episode third season on 20 April.

The voices are recorded by Ricky Gervais, his longtime collaborator, Stephen Merchant, and Gervais? colleague and friend, Karl Pilkington, whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines.

The series animates the podcast that first appeared on the Guardian website, subsequently earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. In March 2011, the podcast reportedly passed the 300 million download mark.

Topics covered in season three include: Karl ruminating on museum collections, his invention of the mug coaster, a movie pitch, and Karl, Stephen and Ricky shedding new light on charitable causes.

MUMBAI: Despite making jokes at their expense and at the expense of movie stars the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HPFA) has decided to retain comedian Ricky Gervais as the host for the Golden Globe Awards in January 2012.

Gervais who has hosted the previous two editions of the show was brought back into the fold when he met with the new HFPA president Aida Takla-O?Reilly in Paris last month.

The HFPA noted that everyone was happy with the decision to bring Gervais back as his blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities caused anger and resentment in some quarters.

The show honours achievements in both television and film. Meanwhile reports also indicate that the HFPA wants a trial date in January regarding its dispute with Dick Clark Productions. The HFPA had sued Dick Clark Productions a year ago, accusing the Globes producer of secretly signing a six-year extension to NBC?s current agreement to air the telecast - even though it has no commitment to produce the show.