Viewers Slam Jonathan Ross for Oscars Name Blunders

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Jonathan Ross was criticised for mispronouncing stars' names as viewers blasted 's 'embarrassing' Oscars coverage on Sunday night.

The 98th returned this weekend, with Hollywood gathering at the Dolby Theatre in to celebrate film.     

, 65, returned to lead the coverage in the UK alongside presenter Elle Osili Wood, actor Samson Kayo and comic Fred Asquith. 

But not long into the show starting, fans took to social media to complain about the way he said some of the stars' names as well as mixing up two actors' names. 

They claimed he pronounced the host Conan O'Brien's name incorrectly as well as struggling to say Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve's name. 

Taking to X as the coverage aired, fans of the awards show penned: 'if Jonathan Ross could learn how to pronounce everyone's names that would be wonderful'.,

'is jonathan ross intentionally pronouncing everyone's name strangely?',

'might start a drinking game where I take a shot every time jonathan ross pronounces a name weird'.

Another blunder pointed out by viewers was when Jonathan muttered 'f**k' when he thought the broadcast had cut back to LA just after he mixed up Javier Bardem and Benicio del Toro. 

Reacting online, viewers wrote: 'Also not Jonathan Ross mistaking Javier Bardem with several other people #itvOscars',

'Did Jonathan Ross just curse lol #oscars.', 

'Jonathan Ross confusing Bencio with Javier and even saying Joaquin in between. Retirement soon come #ITV #Oscars.',

'Jonathan Ross mixing up Benicio Del Toro + Javier Bardem now!?',

'jonathan ross mixing up javier bardem and benicio del toro oh get this man away from the oscars next year i'm tiiiiiiiiired.'

Others accused him on not reading up on the nominees more before as one viewer penned: 'The Oscars ITV panel is just embarrassing. Jonathan Ross doesn't have a scooby what's going on and the fact the panel called Amy Madigan's win a surprise sums it up really…'.

Many also complained about the poor audio quality on the ITV coverage after experiencing 'horrid bleeping noises'. 

Fans wrote: 'pleeeeease sort out the sound for the Oscars coverage - it's basically unwatchable !!!' (sic).

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'Thought it was only me. It's awful.'

 'oscars on itv is both awful squeaking noises and awful sound quality. yay!'

'@ITV why does the audio for the Oscars coverage sound so dreadful? The audio sounds like it's strained through a thick sock.'

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'There's a technical issue with the sound @ITV for the Oscar's, a horrid bleeping noise'. 

Despite things getting off to a bumpy start, the sound issues were quickly rectified so viewers could enjoy the show.  

Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment.

One Battle After Another ended the 2026 awards season by winning Best Picture on a night where  and earned top acting prizes at the Oscars.

Jordan, 39,  shocked the world at the 98th as he upset  to win Best Actor for Sinners as Buckley, 36, took home Best Actress for her work in Hamnet at the event held at the Dolby Theatre in .

Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the top prize of the night alongside Teyana Taylor and the rest of the cast and crew as the film earned the most wins of the night with six. 

The American black comedy action-thriller film triumphed over a massive, competitive, field  including: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.