Ricky makes pledge on his blog

Ricky Gervais is set to host legendary sketch show Saturday Night Live for the first time.

The comic says he’s been invited to take part lots of times... but has vowed to say ‘yes’ next year.

He wrote on his blog: ‘I promised the SNL lot that I'd host next year. I've been invited to do it so many times but I was never available, but I'm going to do it next year whether it coincides with me plugging something or not.

‘It might even be better if I don't have to restrict it to jokes about the movie or TV show I'm flogging. Pure fun. You'll be the judge of that.’

Gervais’s only previous appearance on the NBC show was a 2008 cameo. He appeared in an episode hosted by Steve Carell to introduce a spoof of The Office set in Japan.

However, he may have been encouraged to take up hosting duties after his friend Louis CK won acclaim for doing the job earlier this month, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Published: 14 Nov 2012