Tim Allen responds to being the butt of Ricky Gervais’ only regretted Golden Globes joke: ‘I didn’t really get it - it just went flat’

Gervais previously said there was ‘no malice’ intended towards the actor and comedian

Tim Allen has responded to Ricky Gervais’ admission that the only Golden Globes joke he regrets is the one he made about the actor and comedian.

Gervais, who hosted the awards ceremony for the fifth time this year and is known for his acerbic jokes at the expense of Hollywood figures, made the gag at the 2011 Golden Globes while introducing Tom Hanks and Allen to the stage.

“What can I say about our next two presenters?” he asked.

“The first is an actor, producer and director whose movies have grossed over $3.5bn at the box office. He’s won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes for his powerful and varied performances, starring in such films as Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Castaway, Apollo 13 and Saving Private Ryan. The other... is Tim Allen.”

Explaining why he regretted the jab, Gervais said he believes Allen “took it wrong”.

Allen has now explained he simply did not understand the joke, saying it fell “flat”.

“Perhaps I didn’t get it,” he told Page Six. “I wasn’t the only one. Tom and I even said [at the time]: ‘I didn’t really get it. It’s like he didn’t finish the joke. It just went flat.’ Later that night he said, ‘It didn’t go so well.’ He kind of apologised.”

Insisting there was “no malice” behind his joke, Gervais said: “I have nothing against Tim Allen. He’s a good actor. He’s probably a nice bloke.”

Read the full Golden Globes winners list here, and you can find a recap of all of the best jokes made by Gervais at this year's ceremony here.