LOS ANGELES: US chat show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres is to host the Oscars for a second time, it has been announced.
“I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say - the third time’s the charm,” joked the presenter.
DeGeneres hosted the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, watched by a TV audience of 39.9 million. She also received an Emmy nomination.
The Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, 2 March 2014.
The chat show host also tweeted the news herself:
“It’s official: I’m hosting the #Oscars! I’d like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra,” she joked.
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said she was the perfect choice as “there are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity”.–BBC