Olivier awards make triumphant return to TV

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jan/29/olivier-awards-return-to-tv

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The Olivier awards will return to mainstream television for the first time in a decade, after ITV secured the rights to broadcast highlights from April's ceremony on the night.

The deal is a significant coup for the Society of London Theatre (Solt), which also revealed that Radio 2 will add the first-ever live broadcast of the nominations announcement, scheduled for 26 March, to their live coverage of the ceremony itself.

Last year's ceremony was broadcast live for the first time since BBC2 dropped the event from its schedules in 2003, but it was only available either online or via the BBC's red-button digital service. Nonetheless, the highlights package and live broadcast drew a combined audience of more than 850,000, leading Solt to push for a larger platform this year.

Solt's chief executive Julian Bird told the Stage at the time: "We hope this shows the strong demand there is for such a programme. In the future, the BBC might consider putting it on one of its mainstream channels."

The Olivier awards' mass appeal may be bolstered by the announcement that Sheridan Smith, a two-time winner herself, will host the ceremony at the Royal Opera House, London, on 28 April. Julia McKenzie, also a double winner, will provide a voiceover, with Smith's co-host still to be secured. Last year's ceremony was presided over by Sweeney Todd co-stars Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball, with individual awards presented by actors including Zach Braff and Tyne Daley.

Solt will also repeat the live screening in Covent Garden piazza this year, with a lineup of performances and guest appearances.