Viewers criticise Jonathan Ross for name mispronunciations and technical issues during ITV’s Oscars coverage

During ITV’s broadcast of the 98th Academy Awards on 15 March 2026, presenter Jonathan Ross faced significant backlash from viewers on social media. Critics accused him of repeatedly mispronouncing nominees’ and presenters’ names, including those of host Conan O’Brien and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve. Further frustration arose when Ross confused actors Javier Bardem and Benicio del Toro, even mentioning Joaquin Phoenix erroneously in the mix-up, and muttered an expletive on air thinking the feed had returned to Los Angeles. Viewers described the performance as embarrassing and suggested Ross lacked preparation on the nominees. Complaints also targeted poor audio quality, with reports of persistent horrid bleeping and strained sound that made the coverage difficult to watch, though ITV reportedly resolved the technical glitches quickly. The article notes Ross hosted alongside Elle Osili Wood, Samson Kayo, and Fred Asquith. Amid the criticism, the Oscars themselves saw *One Battle After Another* claim Best Picture and six awards overall, with standout wins including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan in *Sinners* (upsetting favourite Timothée Chalamet) and Best Actress for Jessie Buckley in *Hamnet*. Other notable victories included Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director and Adapted Screenplay, and groundbreaking wins such as Best Animated Feature for *KPop Demon Hunters*.