After the controversy of this year’s Oscar ceremony which saw Family Guy/American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane shock audiences with his dark humor, the show producers have opted for a safer choice when the next ceremony comes round early next year.

In news that broke just now via The Playlist, it has been confirmed that chat show host Ellen DeGeneres will be performing the Oscar gig for a second time after previously doing it in 2007.

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron issued a joint statement to voice their delight about the news:

“We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars. As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are.”

DeGeneres, who is also best known for voicing Dory in the Pixar classic Finding Nemo (2003), received favourable reviews for her last stint and is the first woman to host more than one show since Whoopi Goldberg back in the 1990s.

Below is DeGeneres’ entertaining monologue from the 2007 ceremony:

The 86th Academy Awards will take place on March 2nd (which also happens to be my birthday!).