Oscars coverage in the UK was free-to-air last night for the first time in two decades but ITV‘s coverage was slammed on social media for insensitivity and a lack of critical expertise.
The LA ceremony was watched by a peak of almost 1M UK viewers and a 630,000 average from its 10.15 p.m. GMT start time until the early hours of the morning but audiences took to X to make their complaints heard.
Deadline revealed ITV had scooped Oscars rights from Sky last year and the coverage was helmed by British broadcaster Jonathan Ross, who was joined by a panel made up of The Hobbit actor Richard Armitage, radio and documentary presenter Yinka Bokinni, actress Fay Ripley and comedian/critic Ben Bailey Smith.
The verdict from multiple critics and movie fans who took to X was that the panel plus Ross lacked sensitivity and there was little critical knowhow.
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