News that Mel Gibson was to present an award at last weekend’s Golden Globes may have come as a shock to some, but host Ricky Gervais used the event to take a pot shot at the disgraced actor’s antisemitic past.

After the list of presenters was released last week Mr Gervais tweeted: “Mel Gibson is presenting an award at the Golden Globes. Thank you, Jesus.”

In 2010, Mr Gervais introduced Gibson at the Emmy Awards and quipped: “He’s been through a lot. Not as much as the Jews.”

On Sunday night, Mr Gervais pretended to be embarrassed at coming face-to-face with Gibson again. "I blame NBC for this terrible situation,” he said. “Mel blames ... we know who Mel blames.

"A few years ago on this show, I made a joke about Mel Gibson getting a bit drunk and saying a few unsavoury things," he said.

"But I now find myself in the awkward position of having to introduce him again. Listen, I'm sure it's embarrassing for both of us."

Mr Gervais then went on to make specific reference to the antisemitic abuse Gibson launched at an LA police officer in 2006 when he was arrested for drunk-driving: "I still feel really bad about it [the Emmy Awards joke], Mel's forgotten all about it apparently. That's what drinking does.”

Not one to let a joke end too early, Mr Gervais apparently closed the awards show with “Shalom”: “From myself and Mel Gibson, shalom.”