Gervais tipped to be 2009 Oscars host

Comedian Ricky Gervais is hotly tipped to host next year's Academy Awards.

Reports in the US claim new Oscars bosses Laurence Mark and Bill Condon were impressed with Gervais at Sunday's Emmy Awards, and they now want to audition him for the Oscars.

A source tells EW.com: "The buzz around town is that Ricky should host the Oscars."

Previous Oscars hosts have included Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Jon Stewart and Billy Crystal.