Movie MAGIC!

JONATHAN ROSS on fronting ITV's Oscars coverage

- STEVEN PERKINS

THE OSCARS

SUNDAY, 10.15PM, ITV1 AWARDS

Film buff Jonathan Ross is thrilled to be leading ITV’s coverage of this year’s Oscars, as Hollywood’s glitziest ceremony returns to free-to-air TV in the UK for the first time in almost two decades.

Viewers will be swept up in all the glamour and grandeur of the 96th Academy Awards, starting from 9pm this Sunday on ITVX as showbiz expert Ross King reports on all the red-carpet action live from Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Then, at 10.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX, Jonathan will helm a star-spangled companion extravaganza, where he’ll be joined by an array of movie-loving guests.

Here, Jonathan, 63, who presented BBC1’s Film… showcase from 1999 to 2010, tells us why we should have the popcorn ready…

It’s going to be a late night for you, Jonathan! How are you preparing?

I’m going to try to have a restful day, maybe have a mid-afternoon nap, and get plenty of coffee on the table.

US talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel is presenting the ceremony for the fourth time, following the 2017, 2018 and 2023 events. What do you think he brings to proceedings?