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Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to host the Oscars ceremony for a third time, producers have announced – saying the star will be “ready for anything”.

The late-night US talk show host will present the ceremony in March 2023, five years since his last appearance at the helm.

Kimmel first hosted the Oscars in 2017 – when he famously managed the chaotic final moments as La La Land was wrongly named best picture over the actual winner, Moonlight – and then again in 2018, which came just months into the #MeToo reckoning in Hollywood.

La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz, left, presenter Warren Beatty, centre, and host Jimmy Kimmel right, look at an envelope announcing Moonlight as best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Pic: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
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Kimmel was hosting when La La Land was infamously announced as the best picture winner in 2017 – although Moonlight had actually won. Pic: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

“We’re super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,” executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said in a joint statement sent to Sky News. “We know he will be funny and ready for anything.”

“Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honour or a trap,” Kimmel joked. “Either way, I am grateful to the academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”

Following Kimmel’s hosting hosting duties in 2018, the Oscars ceremony was held without a main presenter until this year’s ceremony – which saw Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes sharing the stage.

The 2023 show will be the 95th Academy Awards ceremony.

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Academy chief executive Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang said Kimmel will be the “perfect host”.

Molly McNearney, who is the co-head writer and executive producer of the star’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and is married to Kimmel, will also serve as an executive producer on the broadcast.

After years of falling ratings, this year’s ceremony did see numbers improve, with 15.36 million viewers; however, this was in comparison with a record low in 2021, held amid restrictions during the COVID pandemic.

How will Kimmel deal with ‘Slapgate’?

Will Smith accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for King Richard. Pic: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
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Pic: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

The 2022 ceremony made headlines for very different reasons to usual earlier this year, due to Will Smith‘s now infamous “slapping” of award presenter Chris Rock on stage.

Smith, who went on to win best actor for his performance in King Richard later on in the ceremony, was banned from the Oscars for 10 years as a result.

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However, his latest film, Emancipation, which is due out in December and tells the true story of “Whipped Peter,” who joined the Union Army in the 1860s after escaping from slavery in Louisiana, could be in the running for a gong next year.

Oscars bosses have said they are keen to move on from the controversy, but it would be strange for Kimmel to take to the stage without referencing it in some way.

The 95th Oscars will take place on 12 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on ABC.

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Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin

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Tomorrowland: 'Devastating' blaze destroys main stage at major festival - two days before it was due to begin

A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.

Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.

Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.

fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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The fire gutted the main stage


 fire which destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control

The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.

It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.

Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.

A fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky


The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.

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The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.

Read more from Sky News:
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.

“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen who said fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’

Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.

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Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

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Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.

Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.

The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.

Both had died from gunshot wounds.

Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
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Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook

Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.

It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.

According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.

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Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles

In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.

“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

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Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester

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Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week's shows in Manchester

Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.

Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.

While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.

People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. File pic: Reuters
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People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic

Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.

“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.

“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.

“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”

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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig

The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.

The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.

More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.

Read more:
What was Oasis’s first show in 16 years like?
Fans queue all day for Manchester homecoming gig

John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.

He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.

“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.

“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”

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