Olivier Awards Go Live On Radio

The UK's most prestigious theatre accolade, the Laurence Olivier Awards will this year be broadcast live on radio for the first time ever.
BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a special two-hour programme, hosted by BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Gambaccini, from 8pm to 10pm on Sunday March 21, live from the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The Oliviers were filmed until 2003 and televised after the event on BBC2. However, since then they have not been covered on TV or radio.
This year's event will also be streamed live via the Laurence Olivier Awards website www.olivierawards.co.uk
Keira Knightley, Samuel West, Melanie C, Patina Miller and James Earl Jones are among the 2010 nominees for theatreland's most prestigious awards - the equivalent to the Tony Awards in America.
The Laurence Olivier Awards were established in 1976 as The Society of West End Theatre Awards, and Lord Olivier agreed to have his name associated with them in 1984.
The Awards are run by The Society of London Theatre but are adjudicated by panels that are equally made up of members of the theatregoing public and experts chosen for their knowledge and professional experience.
(BMcC/GK)