Summary

  • Will Smith hits Chris Rock live on stage and later apologises during his Oscar-winning speech

  • The slap was in response to a joke the comedian made about Smith's wife Jada's hair-loss

  • Coda wins best film, beating movies including The Power of the Dog and Belfast

  • Jane Campion wins best director for The Power of the Dog

  • Jessica Chastain wins best actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye

  • Coda star Troy Kotsur wins best supporting actor

  • West Side Story star Ariana DeBose is named best supporting actress

  • Sir Kenneth Branagh wins his first Oscar for the autobiographical Belfast

Live Reporting

Mark Savage and Claire Heald

  1. Five ways the Academy is trying to stay relevant

    Will SmithGetty Images

    WIth last year's viewing figures at an all-time low, organisers are under pressure to make the ceremony relevant again, particularly to younger audiences.

    It is a delicate balance trying to keep the ratings high while simultaneously preserving everything that makes the Oscars sacred and prestigious.

    Here are five ways the Academy is hoping to capture audiences this year.

  2. Gone in 60 seconds

    The Oscars: Best picture nominations in 60 seconds

    Don't worry, there aren't any Nicolas Cage films up for an Oscar this year.

    The headline above refers to the amount of time it will take you to watch this neat video round-up of all 10 of the best picture nominees.

    So go on, what are you waiting for?

  3. We're live on the red carpet

    Katie Razzall
    Culture editor

    Will Packer and Shayla CowanGetty Images

    Ceremony producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan were among the first to walk the red carpet

    Sequins, bling, bare flesh on display - and that’s just the journalists.

    We are all penned in beside the red carpet and the anticipation has been building.

    On the other side, the bleacher seats - for ordinary people who have won the ballot for tickets to the red carpet.

    Opposite where we are standing, a selection of highly medalled military personnel stand in the bleachers, phones at the ready for the A lister shots.

    The nominees in some of the craft categories who, controversially, are being awarded their Oscars before the ceremony will be the first to walk the carpet.

    Dune looks likely to sweep up many of these categories. Many nominees in these so-called "below-the-line" categories are upset that their awards will not be presented live in the telecast.

    However, the hair and make up team behind Coming 2 America told us they aren’t worried that their awards are being handed out before the TV show.

    Mike Marino said: "It’s better because we get to go in early and watch the whole show. We are artists, we don’t want the spotlight. We are behind the camera."

  4. The biggest showbiz night of the year

    Steven McIntosh
    Entertainment Reporter in Los Angeles

    The Oscars logo seen on the red carpetGetty Images

    Here in Los Angeles, the excitement in the air is palpable.

    With this year's awards season longer than usual and the Oscars taking place in late March due to a hangover from Covid and lockdowns, there has been more time than usual for awards watchers to speculate about winners and enjoy all the fun and frivolity that comes with the Academy Awards.

    An awards fan wearing Oscars sunglassesGetty Images

    Roads are closed for several blocks surrounding the Dolby Theatre, where tonight's event is being held. The red carpets have been rolled out and security is tight.

    Dune is likely to win the most awards tonight, but they will be primarily in the technical categories. For the top prize, the presumptive frontrunner for the last few weeks, Netflix's The Power of the Dog, faces a significant challenge from Apple TV's Coda. We'll be bringing you more on the nominees a little later.

    Dolby Theatre workers begin to prepared the red carpetGetty Images

    This year’s Oscars will be slightly different. Usually, the red carpet runs for a couple of hours before attention turns to the ceremony.

    However, this year, eight of the 23 categories are being presented in the hour before the ceremony starts. Highlights from those winners’ speeches will then be edited into the TV broadcast in an effort to save time and keep the ceremony to three hours.

    As a result, some big-named stars like Jessica Chastain have said they will spend less time on the red carpet to make sure they're inside in time for the pre-ceremony, in order to show support for their colleagues who are nominated in the technical categories.

    Oscars fans wait on the Hollywood Walk of FameGetty Images

    We're backstage at the Dolby Theatre, waiting in the press room where winners will start to appear after they've delivered their acceptance speeches on stage.

    Each will take a few questions from the press, and we'll be bringing you their reaction live.

  5. Good evening ladies and gentleman

    Final preparations have been made outside the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood BoulevardEPA

    Welcome to our coverage of the 94th Academy Awards – aka the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

    Before we get started we simply must ask, who are you wearing tonight? You look fabulous.

    Stay with us this evening right through to the morning, as we bring you all the best action and reaction from in and around the Dolby Theatre.

    ICYMI, director Jane Campion's Western The Power of the Dog leads the field with 12 nominations going into the ceremony. But it faces competition for the top award, best picture, from Apple TV's Coda and Sir Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

    Will Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch and Dame Judi Dench are among the nominees in the acting categories, along with Troy Kotsur and Olivia Colman.

    Here are some things to look out for, as Hollywood gears up for its biggest night.