Ricky Gervais has revealed he regrets insulting Tim Allen with a joke he made during the Golden Globes, but stands by a controversial quip about transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner.

The 58-year-old British comedian sat down for a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter as he gears up to host the ceremony for the fifth time on Sunday.

He discussed the difficulty in balancing comedy with political correctness and Hollywood egos.

When asked if he had any particular targets for this year's jokes, the comic insisted he wouldn't be zeroing in on any one star.

Controversy: Ricky Gervais, 58, is answering critics who have accused the comedian of being 'transphobic,' in his cover story for The Hollywood Reporter this month

Gervais said he regrets insulting Tim Allen (left) with joke he made at the 2011 Golden Globes, but stands by a controversial quip about transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner (right) in 2016

'I don't think this time [any] individuals are [in the firing line],' he said.

'I think I'll go after the general community.'

And when asked if there was anyone he regretted targeting for ridicule in the past, he admitted, 'Yeah, Tim Allen.'

Gervais took a swipe at Allen when the Home Improvement star presented with Tom Hanks in 2011.

'The first [presenter] is an actor, producer, writer, and director, whose movies have grossed over $3.5billion at the box office,' Gervais said. 'He's won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes for his powerful and varied performances. ... The other is Tim Allen.'

Hanks hit back by saying: 'Like many of you, we recall back when Ricky Gervais was a slightly chubby but very kind comedian.'

'Neither of which is he now,' Allen added.

Having a laugh: When asked why he agreed to host the Golden Globes despite the criticism, Ricky answered simply: 'Because it's fun, it's fun!'

He explained: 'I think he took it wrong…I’m teasing Tim Allen. But anyone standing next to Tom Hanks, unless it’s Dustin Hoffman or Robert Redford or Robert De Niro, that could be me.

'But it happened to be Tim Allen. And I have nothing against Tim Allen. He’s a good actor. He’s probably a nice bloke. So even though there’s no malice and I can justify it comedically and everyone laughed, I didn’t want Tim Allen to think, 'Oh, that was written for me. Why me? Well, because you were standing next to Tom Hanks.”

Gervais also infamously poked fun at Caitlyn Jenner during his fourth time hosting the Golden Globes, in 2016.

'Bulletproof': He also referred to Kevin Hart losing his job as host of the Oscars in 2018 for what were considered homophobic tweets, and said he makes sure his material is 'bulletproof'

When asked how he responds to accusations he is transphobic, he told the publication: 'I just say I'm not [transphobic].'

The infamous 2016 gag involved Gervais quipping that while Jenner had 'shown great bravery' in openly transitioning into a woman, 'she didn't do a lot for women drivers'.

In February 2015, Jenner was involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle collision, in which one woman, Kim Howe, was killed.

The outsider: 'I've got to be the bloke sitting at home who shouldn't have been invited. That's who I've got to be,' said Ricky of his angle for the awards show

Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in the case.

However, the star of The Office claimed his joke was 'misunderstood'.

'I was very careful that the joke was about her being a bad driver. The joke was about stereotypes. I started off being correctly inclusive saying she's brave, breaking down barriers. And then I [said] she didn't do a lot for women drivers.'

Next? When asked if he had any particular targets for this year's jokes, the comic replied, 'I don't think this time [any] individuals are [in the firing line]

When asked why he agreed to host the Golden Globes despite the criticism, Ricky answered simply: 'Because it's fun, it's fun!'

'That first time I did it, [I thought], "Do I pander to the 200 privileged egos in the room, or do I try and entertain a global audience of 200 million people sitting at home who aren't winning awards?"'

'Well, no contest. I try and make it a spectator sport. I try and play the outsider,' Ricky elaborated.

He also referred to Kevin Hart losing his job as host of the Oscars in 2018 for what were considered homophobic tweets, and said he makes sure his material is 'bulletproof' before taking the stage.

'Kevin Hart [lost] his job [as Oscars host] for 10-year-old tweets that he said he was sorry about and deleted at the time. So there's more pressure on making [the jokes bulletproof]'.

'This isn't me in a comedy club.'

The Golden Globes are airing on NBC on Sunday night 8/ET 5/PT.