Ricky Gervais's US Globes jokes 'brave but unnecessary', says Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross has given his verdict on Ricky Gervais's performance at the Golden Globes - saying many of his jokes were "unnecessary".

Comic Gervais, 49, sparked controversy after delivering a string of put-downs while hosting the US awards ceremony last month.

Ross, 50, said he would not have made the Scientology jibe, in which the Office star referred to "two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay" in a film and then added: "Sort of the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists then."

However, he said in a magazine interview that Gervais's headline-grabbing jokes would have helped his US career.

Ross said: "It was kind of brave, but a lot of those jokes were kind of unnecessary. I definitely wouldn't have gone for the Scientology joke. But you have to remember Ricky's career doesn't depend on the Golden Globes.

"I'd say what he did will be good for him in America. Being a comedian is dependent on being brave and brutally truthful."

Ross, who has signed a deal to front a chat show for ITV, said the broadcast that landed him and Russell Brand in hot water, after the pair left messages on actor Andrew Sachs's answerphone, could have been avoided.

He said: "I worried about it from the moment me and Russell left the studio. I kept calling, saying I didn't think it was right and were they absolutely sure Andrew was OK with it."