ITV's return to broadcasting the Oscars after a 20-year absence was marred by viewer backlash against host Jonathan Ross. The comedian presented a pre-show panel featuring Richard Armitage, Fay Ripley, Yinka Bokinni, and Ben Bailey Smith, but his jokes were widely criticised on social media.
Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their displeasure. @HollyMunn93 called the commentary 'cringing', while @harrisonjbrock described the coverage as 'utterly painful' with 'awful jokes'. @AckerooBanzai likened Ross's humour to 'a fungal infection', and @ben_eales threatened to switch to a stream if Ross talked over the ceremony itself.
Ross's jokes included a quip about a 'Best Hat' award being 'hotly contested between Oppenheimer and Napoleon', a reference to Margot Robbie's Oscar snub involving the doll Sindy, and a pun on Cillian Murphy's film 'Oppenheimer' as 'Nukey Blinders'. A gag about Robert Downey Jr. playing a government official instead of Iron Man also fell flat.
Despite the criticism, some viewers defended Ross. @TeamKins praised him, saying it was 'not an easy job'. The main ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, saw 'Oppenheimer' win seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy.
