Comedian Jimmy Kimmel to return as Oscars host in 2023

LOS ANGELES - Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2023 Oscars ceremony, organisers said on Monday, choosing a veteran emcee for Hollywood’s most prestigious showcase a year after

actor Will Smith upended the event by slapping presenter Chris Rock.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hopes Kimmel, a popular US comedian who hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018, will help boost

slumping TV viewership

and bring decorum to the event after Smith’s outburst distracted from the evening’s honors last year.

Last year’s broadcast on Walt Disney’s ABC network received the event’s second-lowest viewership on record. But video of Smith slapping Rock’s face on stage after the comedian made a joke about the actor’s wife was shared widely on social media and dominated news headlines for days.

“Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap,” Kimmel said in a statement. “Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”

The ceremony will be held on March 12 at its longtime home, Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.

“Jimmy is the perfect host to help us recognise the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement.

“His love of movies, live TV expertise, and ability to connect with our global audiences will create an unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide,” they said.

Smith, who

won best actor for his role in King Richard

less than an hour after the incident with Rock, has publicly apologised to the comedian. He is

banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years

, but is still eligible to be nominated and win. REUTERS