Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

It’s always fun to look at what’s inside the Oscars goodie bag – which is gifted to every nominee in the acting and directing categories (sorry cinematographers).

This year’s bag of gifts is reportedly worth more than $100,000 (£76,000) in total, which should help some of those A-list Hollywood stars experience some luxuries for a change.

The goodie bags are put together by a third party and not associated with the Academy. And it's more like a goodie suitcase given how many items there are.

It's also worth pointing out some of the nominees choose not to accept the gifts because they'd have to pay tax., external

The list of gifts is varied and random - so we hope this year's nominees are fans of making their own popcorn while staying at a castle in Scotland recovering from their free plastic surgery procedure.

This year's gifts include:

• A plastic surgery procedure
• A luxury unisex fragrance
• A three-day wellness retreat, and a separate four-night stay at a luxury spa
• An entire plot of land in Scotland
• An all-inclusive stay at Turin Castle in Scotland (we really hope the nominees this year are fans of Scotland)
• Extra virgin olive oil infused with gold

• Games including Exploding Kittens

• Skin treatments
• A year’s supply of breathable make-up foundation
• Premium popcorn kernels
• Anti-aging supplements
• Sleep gummies
• Complementary project management for their next renovation or construction project
• A Tangle Teezer hairbrush
• An inflatable ocra
• A hosted meditation
• Spiritual connection coaching session
• A luxury wood wick scented candle

Image source, EPA

Wanda Sykes, one of three hosts this evening, has just walked the red carpet.

She told US TV journalists that she won't be roasting anyone in the Dolby Theatre (like Ricky Gervais has done in the past at the Golden Globes).

"If I do say something about someone it's gonna be a little love tap!" said Sykes.

"Nothing mean."

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

We feel bad for Netflix. They've really put in the hours (and money) over the last few years trying to win best picture.

Films like Mank, The Irishman, Marriage Story and particularly Roma have come close to taking home the top prize.

But while The Power of the Dog is still a favourite, it has a significant challenge from Apple TV's Coda, which has experienced an 11th-hour surge in momentum.

No streaming service has ever won best picture before, and Netflix would be disappointed if the less-established Apple swooped in and took the crown first.

There is precedent for that happening. Netflix had been keen to win the best drama award at the Emmys (the TV equivalent of the Oscars) for years, before Hulu leapfrogged them in 2017 to win for The Handmaid's Tale. That made Hulu, not Netflix, the first streamer to win the top Emmy.

But Netflix's loss would be Apple's gain - a best picture win for the tech giant would give them a huge boost in the battle for content.

Currently, Apple TV+ only has a few big hits to its name, such as TV shows Ted Lasso and The Morning Show. But a sudden victory in the best picture category at the Oscars would make them a much bigger player in the film world.

That would make it easier for them to attract bigger names and sought-after films going forward.

Safe to say, there's a lot hanging on tonight's top prize.

Image source, Reuters

Olivia Colman is up for best actress for The Lost Daughter and she's just walked the red carpet in a long silver dress. Her fans will be hoping silver doesn't signify runner-up tonight.

Image source, Reuters

The Power of the Dog star Benedict Cumberbatch is up for best actor but he could easily be mistaken for a waiter if he's not careful.

Cumberbatch is up against Tick, Tick... Boom! actor Andrew Garfield for the main male acting prize tonight, and he's not scrubbed up too bad either tonight.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Warner Bros

The Oscars might not start airing for a while yet, but we already have our first winner.

This is because they are presenting some of the so-called "below-the-line" categories in a pre-show, taking place in the hour before the ceremony.

And the first winner isn't a surprising one - it's best sound, and it goes to Dune, just as expected. We'll bring you reaction from the winners a little later.

Image source, Getty Images

A black and white tux is not for everyone attending tonight's show... check out Oscar-nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee in delicate baby blue.

Image source, Getty Images

Selma star David Oyelowo is in a striking floral yellow and black suit with a black shirt and tie, which is another fabulous break from the norm.

Image source, Getty Images

Oscars show producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan are on the red carpet with Packer's glittering gold tux providing a pop of colour next to Cowan's black number.

Image source, Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet, meanwhile, has found a great way to deal with the searing Los Angeles heat, walking the red carpet with an open sparkly suit jacket and without a shirt underneath.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

The Academy hires a wide variety of celebrities to present its categories.

This year's list is just as starry as usual - in fact, Oscars evangelists get quite cross that the Academy often prioritises star power over people with more credible film careers.

Case in point - DJ Khaled's biggest film role to date may be a cameo in Pitch Perfect 3, but he is set to present one of tonight's awards. In fact, we hope he's presenting two, just so we can hear him say his catch phrase: "Another one..."

Sir Anthony Hopkins was famously asleep in Wales when he won his Oscar for best actor last year, for his performance in The Father. The Academy wouldn't let anybody Zoom in and the 84-year-old was reportedly reluctant to travel. Sir Anthony beat the late Chadwick Boseman, who was the firm favourite. We can't wait to see Sir Anthony finally take to the Oscars stage.

The two supporting winners from last year both return as well - Yuh-Jung Youn and Daniel Kaluuya, although best actress winner Frances McDormandis notably absent from the presenters' list.

Jamie Lee Curtis is always good value, skateboarder Tony Hawk will hopefully recreate a half-pipe on stage, and some younger stars such as West Side Story star Rachel Zegler and the new Little Mermaid Halle Bailey will appear in an effort by the Academy to attract more viewers.

Image source, Getty Images

The full list of guest presenters:

Halle Bailey, Stephanie Beatriz, Josh Brolin, Ruth E. Carter, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kevin Costner, Jamie Lee Curtis, DJ Khaled, Jacob Elordi, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Garner, Tiffany Haddish, Jake Gyllenhaal, H.E.R., Tony Hawk, Anthony Hopkins, Daniel Kaluuya, Samuel L. Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lily James, Zoë Kravitz, Mila Kunis, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Shawn Mendes, Jason Momoa, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Jill Scott, Naomi Scott, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, J.K. Simmons, Kelly Slater, Wesley Snipes, Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Shaun White, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Yuh-Jung Youn and Rachel Zegler.

Image source, Getty Images

Several stars and nominees are showing their support for Ukraine on the red carpet. Aquaman star Jason Momoa was seen with a hankerchief in the colours of the Ukrainian flag (above).

Others are wearing a blue ribbon displaying the words "With Refugees".

The ribbons have reportedly been distributed by the UN Refugee Agency, which said it had provided the ribbons for celebrities to demonstrate the plight of refugees not only in Ukraine, but for the 85 million that are displaced around the world.

Those wearing the ribbons so far include best original song nominee Diane Warren, last year's best supporting actress winner Yuh-Jung Youn, and Halloween legend Jamie Lee Curtis.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

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Amy Schumer, one of the show's three hosts for tonight's ceremony, has arrived on the red carpet, with a low-cut gown decorated with a sparkling bow.

She recently told Good Morning America she had prepared for tonight's show by talking to previous Oscars hosts.

"I really like to overprepare for everything," she said. "I spoke to Chris Rock, who I talk to all the time, and Jimmy Kimmel. They're giving me great advice."

Image source, Reuters

The California sibling pop-rock band Haim have just arrived.

All three sisters, as well as their actual real life mum and dad, all feature in the Paul Thomas Anderson film Licorice Pizza, which is up for best picture.

Musician-turned-lead actress Alana Haim joked: "Everyone now knows what it's like to come to Shabbat dinner at the Haim house".

She missed out on a best actress nomination at tonight's ceremony, but Licorice Pizza is nominated for best director, best picture, and best original screenplay.

Image source, Netflix

From The Power of the Dog to Encanto, via The Lost Daughter; here's more about the 16 movies that performed the best in the Oscar nominations.

Bonus film buff point for anyone who has seen 10 or more already.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Since the OscarsSoWhite scandal of 2016, many people keep a close eye on the nominations to make sure a wide range of backgrounds are recognised at the Academy Awards.

This year, they’re unlikely to have anything to worry about.

Unless there are several big upsets, we’re likely to be looking at one of the most diverse winners’ lists of recent years.

Two of the four acting winners (Will Smith and Ariana DeBose) are from ethnic minority backgrounds, while DeBose would also be the first openly queer woman of colour to win an acting Oscar. Another likely acting winner (Troy Kotsur) is deaf, while best director is likely to once again go to a woman - Jane Campion.

The best picture race, meanwhile is thought to be a race between two female-directed films - one about a deaf family with a female lead character (Coda), or another about toxic masculinity (The Power of the Dog).

It's fair to say the Academy has come along way since 2016.

Image source, Reuters

The nominations for this year's Oscars, honouring the movie industry's finest from the past 12 months, dropped in early February.

ICYMI, Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog, an intense Western starring Benedict Cumberbatch, leads the way with 12 nominations.

It is closely followed by Dune, which has 10, and Belfast and West Side Story, which have seven each.

Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Garfield are among the UK nominees in the lead acting categories.

While Dame Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds are nominated for their supporting roles in Sir Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

Now the big event has finally arrived, keep this list of the main award nominations in full handy as we go long into the night (and the morning, UK time).

Image source, Apple TV

Denzel Washington will go up against the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Will Smith, who has described the Macbeth star as his "mentor", for the main male acting gong tonight.

Speaking to BBC News earlier this year, the two-time Oscar-winner explained his approach to big nights like these.

"I just show up," he said.

"I've been blessed to have been nominated 10 times now, including best picture [for Fences, which he directed, produced and starred in].

"I've seen every which way the shows can go and been the winner or the loser, and you just go and try to have a good time."

Wise words.

Read more from our interview with Washington here.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Apple

Until the last couple of weeks, The Power of the Dog was widely assumed to have best picture in the bag.

But after winning some unexpected prizes recently at various precursor ceremonies, Coda has turned it into a genuine race.

It won best adapted screenplay at the Bafta Film Awards, a category it was not expected to score, plus the top prizes at both the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) awards.

Troy Kotsur has been the frontrunner for best supporting actor for several weeks, and still looks set to triumph.

But Coda could now feasibly also win both of its other two nominations – best picture and best adapted screenplay.

Statistically, this would be a hell of a feat. No film since 1932's Grand Hotel has won the best-picture Oscar with fewer than four total nominations.

So how did this happen?

Image source, Getty Images

While the Power of the Dog is respected and admired as a piece of filmmaking and still marginally the favourite to win, more people enjoyed Coda. It’s a moving, feel-good movie about the hearing daughter of deaf parents, who has to juggle the demands of helping them with their day-to-day lives with her own ambitions to become a singer.

The Power of the Dog, a fairly dull but respected western starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is a much more divisive movie. While it will no doubt get a lot of first place votes, there are plenty of Academy members who disliked it so much they might put it in last or second-last place on their ballot.

That would allow a film such as Coda to come through the middle and scoop best picture. If enough people voted for it in second, third and fourth place, that could make it a strong enough consensus choice to overtake The Power of the Dog.

It's also thought that many Academy voters did not watch Coda until the last two or three weeks, which is why it has experienced such a late surge as more people discover its feel-good message for the first time.

Read more about the making of best picture favourite Coda.

Image source, LISA O'CONNOR/GETTY IMAGES

Sir Kenneth Branagh is out of Covid isolation and will be in attendance tonight.

Ciarán Hinds, who is nominated in the best supporting actor category, will also go to the ceremony.

There had been concerns that they would be unable to attend after both testing positive for Covid earlier in March.

Belfast has seven Oscar nominations in total, including two for Branagh in the best director and best original screenplay categories.

Read more

The Academy has introduced the "fan favourite" this year - a prize decided entirely on public votes from social media and the Academy website.

The winning film won't receive one of the gold statuettes like the others, so it's more of a bonus category, introduced for younger and more online-skewing audiences.

Entertainment reporter Steven McIntosh has been taking a look at some of the films that might win and why.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is bound to be in the mix, and co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya spoke to the BBC's Sophie van Brugen (watch above) about playing such iconic characters and learning to cope with fame.

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

We have to hand it to them, this year’s Oscars set looks gorgeous.

It’s blue, it’s mystical, it’s swooshy. It has cabaret tables rather than more regimented and tightly packed seating.

With far fewer seats available, no wonder they almost didn’t have room for Rachel Zegler.

The set is so beautiful it arguably deserves to be nominated for best production design itself (and then have its acceptance speech edited for length and highlighted into the TV broadcast).

Image source, COURTESY OF STXFILMS

For the past three years, the Oscars ceremony has had no official overall host, but that's all about to change as the 2022 edition will be jointly emceed by US comic actresses Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.

"We want people to get ready to have a good time, it's been a while," said the trio in a joint statement published on the Oscars website last month.

During a press conference earlier this week, Sykes said: "All three of us have different sensibilities but we will open the show together. And then you’ll see different variations of hosts. It might be one of us, it might be two of us. We all might be drunk so it might be nobody. It’s going to be a fun night and we all get our moments together and we get our moments solo."

Schumer, meanwhile, told Extra:, external "I'm going to get myself in some trouble. Wanda, Regina are hilarious, and we're having a blast preparing.

"I mean, I don't know who made the decision to let me personally be a host, but it's not a good one... because it'll burn all bridges. I'll burn every bridge."

Celebrities can expect a slightly softer ride from Sykes, however. "We’re not trying to trash anyone but we’re going to have some fun," she said.

Find out more about the hosts here

Olivia Colman is one of the UK nominees in the lead acting categories.

The Lost Daughter star and director Maggie Gyllenhaal caught up with the BBC's Colin Paterson in a London hotel room just before Christmas to discuss their new film, motherhood, and erm... writing to Bon Jovi.

Watch above and read more here.