Oscars latest: Who should win – and what’s inside nominees’ unofficial £260k goodie bags
Oscars Latest: Who Should Win – and What’s Inside Nominees’ Unofficial £260k Goodie Bags
As Oscar night approaches, celebrities like Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone are set to arrive at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the ceremony later today. Sky News is providing live coverage from Los Angeles, with updates available here.
A Shift in the Spotlight
The Oscars are set to undergo a significant transformation in the coming years. Starting with the 101st edition in 2029, the ceremony will no longer be broadcast on ABC but will instead stream exclusively on YouTube, a move that marks a departure from its decades-long partnership with the network.
This transition will grant YouTube access to the event’s global audience, including the iconic red carpet arrivals and the Governors Ball afterparty, for the next five years. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced the agreement with Google-owned YouTube, highlighting the streaming platform’s exclusive rights to the awards.
“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,” stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor.
Behind the Scenes of Glamour
The 100th anniversary of the Oscars will be the last time ABC will host the broadcast. The network has been the primary platform for the event since 1961, following NBC’s initial coverage in 1953. A brief hiatus occurred between 1971 and 1975, but ABC has otherwise remained the dominant presence in Oscar telecasts.
With the final ABC airing looming, the Sky News team is preparing for the event. Arts and entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer is undergoing professional styling at a hotel before heading to her coverage position. The process involves collaboration with hair stylist Melissa and make-up artist Naisha, who are accustomed to crafting looks for award show attendees.
Melissa, who has worked on high-profile stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande, is currently preparing five individuals for the event. Katie Spencer is her first client this year. “I consult on their outfits and the desired style, then we align on the final look,” Melissa explained. “For Katie, we’re going for a vintage Hollywood aesthetic with waves and a classic feel.”
Naisha, a make-up artist with nearly a decade of experience, emphasized the demanding nature of award show weekends. “These are long days, so you have to push through the entire weekend,” she noted. She began her work at 7am and is completing her fourth client today, with a focus on a “brown, smoky eye” for Spencer.
Predictions for the Big Night
Gold Derby, a long-standing authority in entertainment forecasting, has shared insights on this year’s Oscars. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum outlined her expectations, noting that while the final stretch of the awards season often feels predictable, this year is an exception.
“This time, the only person I feel confident about is Jessie Buckley,” Birnbaum said. “It’s been an extraordinary awards season, with an unprecedented level of competition. That unpredictability is what makes it thrilling.”
Birnbaum highlighted Buckley’s strong position, citing her 96.97% chance of victory according to Gold Derby’s analysis. The star of Hamnet is the sole acting nominee to have secured all four major precursor awards—Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, and Actor Awards—making her a standout contender. “Her performance is a game-changer, one that resonates deeply with voters,” Birnbaum added. “No one has ever won all the leading awards and still lost the Oscar, with Russell Crowe being the only exception in 2002.”
