Jonathan Ross’ Oscars coverage slammed with ITV viewers branding show as ‘funny as a fungal infection’

Jonathan Ross failed to impress ITV viewers as he began his coverage of the Oscars 2024 on Sunday evening.

The talk show legend moderated a panel on ITV1, which broadcasts the Academy Awards event this year.

Ross, 63, was joined by actor Richard Armitage, comedian Ben Bailey Smith, actress Fay Ripley, and TV presenter Yinka Bokinni to discuss all the action from the awards presentation on the other side of the pond.

However, viewers found Ross’ quips dull and stated that they were switching channels.

Scathing in their commentary, @AckerooBanzai wrote on X: ‘ITV’s Oscar coverage has kicked off with the most unfunny 10 minutes of mine or anyone else’s life. Jonathan Ross is as funny as a fungal infection.’

Sharing a similar sentiment, @harrisonjbrock wrote: ‘This Jonathan Ross ITV pre Academy Awards coverage is utterly painful. Awful jokes, forced laughs from his few guests, HELL ON EARTH.’

@TomJBeasley agreed, commented: ‘Well I hope Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue is better than the 5 mins of #Oscars material us British folk just got from Jonathan Ross on ITV. Yikes!’

@ben_eales said: ‘The Jonathan Ross panel pre-show* commentary is godawful. can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m missing the awful Kimmel humour in comparison.’

Sharing their thoughts, @aidan__94 complained: ‘ITV inflicting Jonathan Ross on us for their Oscar coverage. We deserve better.’

@tobymortimer_ also weighed in: ‘I’ve switched over to itv 2 until the actual oscars start, like Jonathan Ross but god his jokes feel so forced tonight lol.’

It comes after the ITV’s head of entertainment commissioning, Katie Rawcliffe, told Variety of Jonathan’s hosting gig: ‘I think it’s fair to say he’s really enthusiastic about doing this. He’s a bit like us. I’m a mad film fan and one of the reasons I wanted ITV to do this is I watch the Oscars every year.

‘I do an Oscars party — we stay up all night — I absolutely adore the Oscars. And I was feeling more people would do this if it was on a free-to-air channel, if people built up to it a bit more and created more of a buzz. And what you want is someone who feels the same hosting it. And Jonathan is all of those things.’

Oppenheimer swept the Oscars this year, winning seven categories, including best actor for Cillian Murphy and best director for Christopher Nolan, while Emma Stone won best actress for the second time.

The Oscars 2024 is available to watch in the UK on ITVX.