Olivier Theatre awards return to TV

ACTRESS Sheridan Smith is to host UK theatre’s biggest prize show, the Olivier Awards, as the event returns to mainstream TV for the first time in a decade.

Organisers of The Olivier Awards 2013 with MasterCard have struck a deal with ITV to screen the show, which is held at London’s Royal Opera House.

Smith is a two-time winner at the Oliviers, landing the best supporting actress prize last year for Flare Path and best actress in a musical for Legally Blonde in 2011.

The Oliviers were broadcast last year by the BBC, but the event was available only on the red button. Prior to that, it was last on television in 2003, when it was shown by BBC2.

ITV will screen a highlights programme shortly after the ceremony, and it will also be broadcast by BBC Radio 2, which is backing the audience award for the most popular show.