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The Oscars 2017: Jimmy Kimmel brings tourists into awards show to meet Denzel Washington and Ryan Gosling

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

A group of tourists received the biggest Hollywood surprise ever during the Oscars ceremony.

Jimmy Kimmel brought a busload of fans into the awards show, where they came face to face with some of the world’s biggest film stars.

The stunned tourists were told they were visiting an exhibit – and had no idea they were entering the glitzy event at Dolby Theatre.

One member of the group – Gary Allan Cole from Chicago – became an instant hit with viewers, as he and his fiancée Vicky reacted to the stunt.

Wearing a Hollywood-branded hoodie, Cole took pictures with Mahershala Ali and held the Best Supporting Actor statue that Ali had won for Moonlight.

Gary and Vicky were also ‘married’ by Denzel Washington, who posed for a picture with the pair and said: "I pronounce you husband and wife, kiss the bride."

‘Gary from Chicago’ became an instant internet meme, with viewers posting about the tourist on social media.

Elsewhere at the Oscars ceremony, the coveted Best Picture prize was the source of controversy after being accidentally awarded to the wrong film.

Presenting the award, Warren Beatty announced the winner as La La Land – but it emerged that he had been holding the Best Leading Actress envelope, which featured Emma Stone's name as the winner for the modern day musical.

Mid-way through their speeches, the La La Land crew were informed that Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight had actually won the biggest award of the night – and the statue was handed across to the real winners.