Spouses vie for theatre award

Husband and wife Lee Mead and Denise Van Outen will go head-to-head in a battle for theatrical honours after they were both nominated in the same category at an awards event.

The nominations for the 11th annual Whatsonstage.com awards were announced yesterday. Mead and Van Outen were nominated for best takeover in a role for their appearances in Wicked and Legally Blonde respectively. Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh said: "In the 10 years since Whatsonstage.com started their awards, the event has gone from an insiders' get-together to the commercial theatre's only true popular awards. A real celebration of the most popular theatre productions of the year voted for by the people who actually pay for their own tickets and for shows they really want to see."

The winner will be announced on 20 February at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.