Ratings for this year’s Academy Awards were up on last year’s record low, according to data released by US broadcaster ABC.
The broadcast averaged 29.6 million viewers – an 11% increase on last year’s audience of 26.5 million.
Instead of using a host, the Academy had celebrities – among them Daniel Craig, Julia Roberts and Dame Helen Mirren – announce each category.
But don’t get used to it, as a host may be back for next year’s ceremony.
Rob Mills, ABC’s senior vice president said that while the show “works when it’s host-less… a host will be in the conversation for next year”.
“Imagine what would have happened if Envelopegate had happened this year and we didn’t have a host?” he told Variety.
Mills was referring to the moment when La La Land was accidentally named best picture instead of Moonlight in 2017.
