Paul McCartney loved my joke about divorce, says Ricky Gervais

Sir Paul McCartney loved Ricky Gervais's Golden Globes joke about his divorce from Heather Mills, the comic said.

The ex-Beatle was one of several A-listers who The Office star poked fun at during the Los Angeles awards ceremony, which is seen as a precursor to the Oscars.

During the show, he pointed at Sir Paul, who was at the ceremony with girlfriend Nancy Shevell, and said: "We were on the same plane to get here. I was in first and he was behind me in coach. Well, he spent a lot of money last year."

When the audience groaned, he added: "I don't think we have to feel too sorry for him. He's doing all right."

Host: Ricky Gervais drew a mixed response at the Golden Globes

Gervais, 48, wrote on his blog today: "So that was The Golden Globes. Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.

"I was worried about the Paul McCartney line but then he came backstage and hugged me and said he loved it, so that was OK. Never p** off a Beatle - rule 1."

Funnyman Gervais drew a mixed response to his gags, whose targets included Mel Gibson, Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie and broadcaster NBC.

Critics, including the New York Daily News, concluded that Gervais's best quip was to appear on stage with a beer in his hand, saying: "I like a drink as much as the next man... unless the next man is Mel Gibson" - a reference to the Oscar-winner's arrest for drink driving in 2006.

Gossip websites TMZ and Radar Online praised the host, calling him "hysterical" and "on fire" but The Hollywood Reporter said he was "disappointingly toothless" and "tackled predictable subjects" while the Los Angeles Times said it was "not a great night for Ricky Gervais".