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, Hollywood’s biggest names—Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone—are gathering at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the ceremony. Sky News is live at the venue, providing real-time updates on the event. The red carpet is already buzzing with anticipation, setting the stage for a night of awards and surprises.
The 101st Academy Awards will mark a significant shift in how the event is viewed. Starting in 2029, the show will transition from its long-standing home on ABC to being exclusively streamed on YouTube. This change means the ceremony will reach billions of users globally, free of charge, through the video platform’s vast audience.
YouTube’s acquisition of the Oscars’ broadcast rights from 2029 to 2033 was announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last year. The deal includes the iconic red carpet and the Governors Ball afterparty, redefining the way audiences experience the event. “We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube,” stated Academy executives Bill Kramer and Lynette Howell Taylor. “It’s a new era for the Oscars and our year-round programming.”
ABC has been the primary broadcaster of the Oscars for most of its history, dating back to 1961. Before that, NBC held the rights from 1953 until 1961, with ABC taking over for nearly four decades. The network will conclude its tenure with the 100th anniversary ceremony, delivering its final broadcast in a grand finale.
Meanwhile, the Sky News team is preparing for the event. Just after 11:30am in Los Angeles, on-camera correspondent Katie Spencer is undergoing professional styling at the hotel. The team’s hair stylist, Melissa, and make-up artist, Naisha, are readying attendees for the red carpet. Both have worked with high-profile celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande, and are accustomed to the demands of awards shows.
Melissa, who’s currently preparing five individuals, shared insights on the process. “I consult about their outfits and the style they want, then we align on the final look,” she explained. “For Katie, we’re going old Hollywood with waves. These days can be long, so you have to stay focused through the entire weekend.” Naisha, with nearly a decade of experience, noted the usual pace of awards weekends. “I’ve done makeup for many people, but it’s rare to know them before the event,” she said. “Sometimes they’re just surprised by their own achievements, like when they say, ‘Oh, I wrote this movie.'”
Gold Derby, a Los Angeles-based organization with over 25 years of tracking entertainment events, offers its own take on this year’s Oscar contenders. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum predicts a different dynamic than previous years. “Usually, by this stage, it gets a bit predictable,” she remarked. “We see the same faces delivering familiar speeches, and the outcomes often feel certain. But this season has been wild—unlike anything we’ve seen in years.”
Birnbaum expressed confidence in Jessie Buckley as a likely winner. “The only person I’m reasonably certain about is Buckley,” she said. “Her performance in *Hamnet* has been a standout, earning her all four major precursor awards. That’s why the odds are so high for her.” According to Gold Derby’s calculations, Buckley’s chances of victory are at 96.97%, a figure that underscores her dominance in recent awards cycles. “There’s no precedent for someone winning every major award before the Oscars and then losing,” Birnbaum added. “Russell Crowe was the last exception in 2002, and that’s a rare case.”
