Billy Crystal replaces Eddie Murphy as Oscars 2012 host

Billy Crystal, star of 'When Harry Met Sally', will be hosting the Oscars next year, after Eddie Murphy dropped out.

The announcement was made yesterday (10 November) after Crystal made a statement on his Twitter page.

He wrote: "Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show."

This will be the ninth time that the actor has presented the award ceremony, with the most recent being 2004.

Crystal is an American actor who first came to fame in the ABC sitcom 'Soap', before appearing in films 'City Slickers' and 'When Harry Met Sally'.

He will be taking over the presenting duties from Murphy who quit earlier this week after producer Brett Ratner resigned from his position after being criticised for a homophobic remark.

Tom Sherak, Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences president, said that he is thrilled to be welcoming Crystal back to the Oscars as he is a comic legend.