The expensive presents doled out to Oscar nominees and presenters do not come free. They are defined as a taxable benefit of the job and as such Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, wants his cut.

A determined celebrity, especially an Oscar nominee, can probably amass close to $1 million (£520,000) in gifts and prizes the week before the show, according to industry experts.

A celebrity is viewed by many companies as the ultimate product-placement opportunity. As such, they are willing to pack hospitality bags full of luxury loot. The gift bag given to presenters, including Kate Winslet, this year is believed to be worth more than £50,000.

Goodies included £13,000 worth of travel vouchers, a £780 night out at a New York restaurant, nearly £400 worth of make-up and an £1,800 day at a Manhattan spa. Celebrities also received a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a digital camera and £250 of olive oil and coffee.

Nominees collected a bag bulging with desirable products, from a two-night stay in a £11,400 hotel suite, laser eye surgery vouchers worth £2,600, first-class flights and life coaching certificates.

In addition, those on the Oscar party-circuit received gifts from their hosts. Guests at the bash hosted by Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks studio were handed a selection of items, including digital iPod music players customised by stars including Tom Hanks and Courteney Cox.

One Briton to win an Oscar was the Dartford film director Andrea Arnold who described the experience as truly “the dog’s b******s”.

The former children’s television presenter was a rare British success at the 77th annual Academy Awards, which were dominated by Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby.

Arnold, 44, won the prize for best live action short film for Wasp, the story of a young single mother struggling to bring up four children.

A former host of the ITV children’s show Motormouth, Ms Arnold treated the star-studded audience to a rich display of native Kent vernacular.

“Thanks to everyone who worked on this — the beers are on me when we get home,” she declared. “In England, we would say this is the dog’s b******s.”

Peering at Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and the assorted luminaries, Arnold concluded: “It’s a long way from Dartford. This is truly overwhelming.”

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