Drew Barrymore Dropped As Host at the National Book Awards Over Writers Strike

Drew Barrymore has been dropped as host of the US National Book Awards after controversy about her TV show returning during the ongoing Hollywood strike.

Earlier this week, the talk show host and actress said the programme's return would be in line with strike rules.

But the show's writers were among those who picketed the studio in New York after it resumed filming.

On Tuesday, the National Book Foundation said it had rescinded her invitation to host Friday's ceremony.

National Book Foundation bosses had previously lauded her work championing books on her show.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since the beginning of May over concerns about pay, conditions and the use of AI, with actors joining the writers in July.

At the start of the strike, Barrymore stepped down as host of the MTV Film and TV Awards in solidarity with the striking WGA members.

But the star said she made "the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me".