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 the big night approaches, Hollywood’s elite including Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone are making their way to the Dolby Theatre for the annual film ceremony. Sky News is providing real-time updates from Los Angeles, capturing the glamour and anticipation of the event.
A Shift in the Spotlight
The Oscars are set to transform in the coming years. Beginning with the 101st ceremony in 2029, the event will debut exclusively on YouTube, ending its decades-long association with the ABC network. This change means the globally celebrated awards will be accessible to YouTube’s two billion users worldwide at no cost.
Behind the Scenes of a New Era
At the heart of this transition is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which announced the partnership with Google-owned YouTube late last year. The streaming platform will hold exclusive rights to the Oscars and the Governors Ball afterparty from 2029 to 2033. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized the significance of the deal:
“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.”
While last year’s ceremony attracted 19.7 million viewers on ABC, a five-year peak, it still pales compared to the 57 million audience in 1998. The network has hosted the Oscars since its early days, with NBC initially televising the event in 1953. ABC took over the rights in 1961 and has remained the primary broadcast partner, except for a brief period between 1971 and 1975 when NBC returned for a few years.
Just past 11:30am in Los Angeles, the Sky News Oscars team is finalizing preparations for the red carpet. Katie Spencer, the on-camera arts and entertainment correspondent, is receiving a professional styling session at the hotel before heading to her assigned post. The process involves close collaboration with hair stylist Melissa and make-up artist Naisha, who are familiar with the meticulous routines required for award show appearances.
Melissa, who has styled A-list celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande, is working on five individuals today, with Katie Spencer being her first client. She explains:
“I consult about their outfits and the desired aesthetic, then we align on the final look. For Katie, we’re going for vintage Hollywood waves—an old-school vibe that reflects the event’s legacy.”
Naisha, a veteran make-up artist with nearly a decade of experience, notes that awards weekends are always hectic. She began her day at 7am, with Katie as her fourth assignment, and shared her approach:
“I love creating red carpet looks. For Katie, I’m leaning into a warm brown, smoky eye. I avoid black because it feels too intense for the early hours.”
Gold Derby’s Forecast
Gold Derby, a long-standing authority in entertainment event analysis, offers insights into this year’s Oscar race. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the current awards season:
“Usually, it gets kind of boring by this point. We’ve seen the same faces and speeches, but this year feels different. The only person I’m confident about is Jessie Buckley.”
Birnbaum highlights Buckley’s dominance in the awards circuit, citing her 96.97% chance of victory. The star of *Hamnet* has swept all four major precursor awards—Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, and Actor Awards—making her a clear favorite. However, she also points out the rarity of such a sweep:
“No one has ever won all the precursor awards and then lost the Oscar, except Russell Crowe in 2002.”
With the ceremony’s format evolving and the competition heating up, the 2029 Oscars promise to be a landmark event. From the glitz of the red carpet to the excitement of the winners’ circle, the stakes have never been higher.
