Reel News admits that, like every other movie organ, it remains somewhat obsessed with the ever-expanding awards season at the beginning of the year. Nonetheless, even the most unrepentant statuette addict would have to admit that, by the time the Oscars come round, the whole business has become very tiresome indeed. Now, one of the most distinguished Oscar winners – nominated 15 times, no less – has owned up that she too finds it wearying.

"As time has gone on, so many other televised award shows precede the Oscars, and I do think that's diluted their importance," Meryl Streep (for it is she) told Entertainment Weekly. "Everybody seems exhausted by the time the same people have trampled up onstage at the Golden Globes, the SAGs, the Broadcast Film Critics, the Baftas. There are so many now and they're all on TV."

Not afraid to risk stirring up serious controversy, Streep, who has every chance of getting nominated again next year for Julie & Julia, went on to suggest that the Oscars be moved to the beginning of the season.

“I think the Academy should move it up to 1 January and pre-empt everybody else,” she said. “That is the Big Kahuna. It’s the one that counts. And I think it’s just so bizarre that they allow themselves to be the caboose.”

Fair point. The season seems to kick off in late autumn and doesn’t wind down until those Oscars are distributed in February.