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 100th edition of the Academy Awards approaches, Hollywood’s biggest stars are preparing for the ceremony. Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone will take the stage at the Dolby Theatre later today. Sky News is providing live coverage from Los Angeles, tracking the event as it unfolds.
Oscars Shift to YouTube
The Oscars may soon look different in the years ahead. Starting in 2029, the ceremony will transition from ABC to YouTube, marking a significant change after decades of broadcast on the network. This move will allow the event to reach YouTube’s two billion global users for free, expanding its audience beyond traditional television.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finalized a partnership with Google’s YouTube last year. Under the deal, the streaming platform will hold exclusive rights to the Oscars and related events, including the red carpet and Governors Ball, from 2029 to 2033. The network has been the primary broadcaster since 1961, following NBC’s initial coverage in 1953. ABC has aired the show for most of its history, with a brief hiatus between 1971 and 1975.
With this shift, ABC will stage its final Oscar broadcast in a memorable 100th-anniversary celebration. Last year’s event drew 19.7 million viewers, a five-year peak, though it still pales compared to the 57 million who tuned in during the 1998 ceremony.
Behind the Red Carpet Scenes
Just after 11:30am in Los Angeles, the Sky News Oscars team is finalizing their preparations. On-camera correspondent Katie Spencer is undergoing professional styling at the hotel, readying herself for the event. Meanwhile, the team is in place to capture the action as it happens.
“It’s a long day, so you have to power through the whole weekend,” says Melissa, the hair stylist. “For Katie, we’re doing waves with an old-school Hollywood vibe.”
“A lot of times I don’t know people,” adds Naisha, the makeup artist. “They come in, I do their look, and then they’re like, oh, I wrote this movie.”
Naisha, who has worked on awards shows for nearly a decade, notes the hectic pace of such events. She began her shift at 7am and is handling Katie as her fourth client of the day. Melissa, experienced in styling A-listers like Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande, is focused on creating a timeless aesthetic for Katie Spencer.
Gold Derby Predictions
Gold Derby, a long-standing authority in entertainment forecasts, shared insights with Sky News this week. The organization gathers predictions from industry insiders, critics, and fans to determine likely Oscar winners. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum offered her take on the current race:
“Usually, it gets kind of boring by this point,” Birnbaum explains. “We have all the precursor awards, and by the Oscars, you often see the same people giving the same speeches. But this year is different—Jessie Buckley is the only nominee I feel confident about.”
Birnbaum highlights Buckley’s dominance in the awards season, having secured all four major trophies: Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, and Actor Awards. “It’s a transformative performance, the kind award voters love to recognize,” she says. “She’s won every award she’s been nominated for, and no one has ever swept all the precursor awards only to lose the Oscar—except Russell Crowe in 2002.”
Gold Derby’s projections place Buckley at 96.97% to win, signaling a strong case for her to carry the momentum into the ceremony. As the countdown continues, the focus remains on who will ultimately take home the coveted statuettes.
