This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/16/helen-mirren-evening-standard-theatre-awards-judges-resign

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Helen Mirren's Evening Standard theatre award in doubt after judges resign Controversy over Helen Mirren's Evening Standard theatre award after judges resign
(1 day later)
Helen Mirren's victory as best actress at this year's Evening Standard awards has been thrown into doubt after three of the judges resigned, apparently in protest at the way it was awarded.Helen Mirren's victory as best actress at this year's Evening Standard awards has been thrown into doubt after three of the judges resigned, apparently in protest at the way it was awarded.
Mirren won the award for her portrayal of the Queen in Peter Morgan's play The Audience, but it has emerged that two of her fellow nominees initially received more votes from the judges. Mirren only won after Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands and the paper's theatre critic Henry Hitchings intervened and changed the result.Mirren won the award for her portrayal of the Queen in Peter Morgan's play The Audience, but it has emerged that two of her fellow nominees initially received more votes from the judges. Mirren only won after Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands and the paper's theatre critic Henry Hitchings intervened and changed the result.
Three of the five independent judges – Susannah Clapp of The Observer, Georgina Brown of the Mail on Sunday and the Telegraph's Charles Spencer – have all stepped down as a result, the first mass resignation in the 59 years of the awards' history. Two other critics, Libby Purves formerly of The Times and the International Herald Tribune's Matt Wolf, will continue to contribute, though critics will now be labelled an "advisory panel".Three of the five independent judges – Susannah Clapp of The Observer, Georgina Brown of the Mail on Sunday and the Telegraph's Charles Spencer – have all stepped down as a result, the first mass resignation in the 59 years of the awards' history. Two other critics, Libby Purves formerly of The Times and the International Herald Tribune's Matt Wolf, will continue to contribute, though critics will now be labelled an "advisory panel".
This year was the first judging process to employ a secret ballot, and it yielded a tie between two of a shortlist comprised of Linda Bassett, Lesley Manville, Billie Piper and Kristin Scott Thomas as well as Mirren. In previous years, any such tie would have been solved by open discussion among the judges, and they have been known to honour joint winners – as happened this year in the best actor category with Rory Kinnear and Adrian Lester sharing the prize.This year was the first judging process to employ a secret ballot, and it yielded a tie between two of a shortlist comprised of Linda Bassett, Lesley Manville, Billie Piper and Kristin Scott Thomas as well as Mirren. In previous years, any such tie would have been solved by open discussion among the judges, and they have been known to honour joint winners – as happened this year in the best actor category with Rory Kinnear and Adrian Lester sharing the prize.
Instead, though, Hitchings retrospectively changed his vote to favour Mirren.Instead, though, Hitchings retrospectively changed his vote to favour Mirren.
Sands has denied that anything untoward occurred, noting that Hitchings had originally supported Rosalie Craig, star of The Light Princess, before it was decided that she should be considered for a new category, best musical performance.Sands has denied that anything untoward occurred, noting that Hitchings had originally supported Rosalie Craig, star of The Light Princess, before it was decided that she should be considered for a new category, best musical performance.
"In discussion about what was a dead heat, Henry and I decided that we would go for an option that would make Helen Mirren the winner," she told the Times. "By doing a first and second vote we could balance the two factions with a third option, which is what happened. It was an absolutely legitimate choice.""In discussion about what was a dead heat, Henry and I decided that we would go for an option that would make Helen Mirren the winner," she told the Times. "By doing a first and second vote we could balance the two factions with a third option, which is what happened. It was an absolutely legitimate choice."
But Clapp said that decisions on several of the awards came as a "surprise" to her, and that – while emphasising that this was not a denigration of Mirren's win – "in the case of the best actress award, I simply didn't understand how the result was reached".But Clapp said that decisions on several of the awards came as a "surprise" to her, and that – while emphasising that this was not a denigration of Mirren's win – "in the case of the best actress award, I simply didn't understand how the result was reached".
She continued: "The awards have rather shifted focus over the last years. A large number of special awards have been introduced, which are in the gift of the editor and not voted on by the judges."She continued: "The awards have rather shifted focus over the last years. A large number of special awards have been introduced, which are in the gift of the editor and not voted on by the judges."
Writing in a blogpost for the Telegraph, Spencer said that his "jaw dropped" when Mirren received the prize. "In the end awards are no more than the icing on the theatrical cake," he said. "But this year it left a bitter taste in the mouth."Writing in a blogpost for the Telegraph, Spencer said that his "jaw dropped" when Mirren received the prize. "In the end awards are no more than the icing on the theatrical cake," he said. "But this year it left a bitter taste in the mouth."
• The headline on this article was amended on 17 December 2013 to better reflect the article. Since publication, the Evening Standard has provided this response:
"The judging for the Evening Standard theatre awards was conducted properly. One judge's first choice in the category in question was a winner in a different category; therefore his second choice became his first vote. With this change taken into account and with all the points (including for each judge's second and third places) totalled, Helen Mirren was the winner of the best actress category.
We are now familiar with the views of the three judges who resigned over the secret ballot. The other judges will remain on our panel next year, when we celebrate the awards' 60th anniversary, and we are pleased that Baz Bamigboye and Paul Taylor have agreed to join the panel for 2014. The secret ballot is often used in award ceremonies to preserve surprise on the evening, but we will be reviewing it as a method for next year."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.