Ellen DeGeneres to host Oscars

08-09-2006 11:30

Ellen DeGeneres will host next year's Oscars.The comedian and talk show host will follow in the footsteps of previous presenters including Billy Crystal, Bob Hope, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock and Jon Stewart.In a statement, Ellen admitted she was "thrilled" to be asked to host the prestigious ceremony next February. She said: "When the Oscars producer Laura Ziskin called, I was thrilled."There are two things I've always wanted to do in my life. One is to host the Oscars. The second is to get a call from Laura Ziskin. You can imagine that day's diary entry."Ziskin has explained why the producers wanted Ellen for the event.She revealed: "Ellen was born to host the Academy Awards.