Oscars latest: Who should win – and what’s inside nominees’ unofficial £260k goodie bags
Oscars Sunday is upon us
Stars such as Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone are set to arrive at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the annual ceremony. Sky News is providing live coverage from Los Angeles, keeping audiences updated as the event unfolds.
Behind the Scenes at the Red Carpet
The Sky News team is rushing to the ceremony. My focus will shift to the interview room at the Old Dolby Theatre, where award winners will share their thoughts after claiming their trophies.
Meanwhile, Katie Spencer, our on-camera arts and entertainment correspondent, is undergoing professional styling at the hotel before heading to her assigned post. Her team includes hair stylist Melissa and make-up artist Naisha, both accustomed to crafting looks for award show attendees.
“I consult about what they’re wearing, what kind of style they want, and then we both come to an image together,” Melissa explains. “For Katie, we’re doing waves—old school Hollywood.”
Naisha, with nearly a decade of experience in make-up artistry, notes that awards weekends are consistently hectic. “A lot of times I don’t know people. They’re like, ‘Oh, I wrote this movie,’ after I finish their look.” She adds that the morning start time is typical for such events.
Streaming the Future of the Oscars
Looking ahead, the Oscars may soon take on a new format. Starting in 2029, the 101st edition of the ceremony will be exclusively streamed on YouTube, marking a shift from its long-standing home on the ABC network in the U.S.
This move means the event will reach YouTube’s two billion global users for free. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the partnership with Google-owned YouTube at year’s end, granting the platform exclusive rights for five years.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round academy programming,” says Academy chief executive Bill Kramer. President Lynette Howell Taylor echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the partnership’s significance.
While ABC has hosted the Oscars for most of its history, including its first televised broadcast in 1953, the network will conclude its run with the 100th anniversary event. NBC briefly took over between 1971 and 1975, but ABC remains the dominant broadcaster.
Predictions for the Night
Gold Derby, a seasoned organization tracking entertainment events for over 25 years, offers insights into this year’s outcome. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum highlights the unpredictable nature of the awards season.
“Usually, it gets kind of boring by this point,” Birnbaum observes. “We have all the precursor awards, and by the Oscars, you’ve often seen the same people make the same speeches.”
This year, however, stands out. Birnbaum expresses confidence in Jessie Buckley, citing a “crazy awards season” that has defied norms. “We haven’t seen a race like this in a lot of years,” she says. “Pretty much anything can happen on Oscar night.”
Gold Derby’s analysis suggests Buckley has a 96.97% chance of victory, making her the top acting nominee in their forecast. Despite this, the unpredictable dynamics of the event keep the anticipation high.
