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Sunset Boulevard has dominated the Olivier Awards, winning seven of its 11 nominations at a star-studded ceremony on Sunday night.

Among the musical’s triumphs were the Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical awards for its leading duo Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Doll and Britain’s Got Talent judge.

Best Actor went to former Sherlock and Game Of Thrones actor Mark Gatiss for his role in Jack Thorne’s The Motive And The Cue.

Nicole Scherzinger attending the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday April 14, 2024. Pic: PA
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Nicole Scherzinger. Pic: PA

The drama, set in 1964, follows a Broadway production of Hamlet starring Richard Burton and the fiery backstage interactions between him and director John Gielgud.

Succession star Sarah Snook beat fellow nominee Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker to take home Best Actress for her West End debut performance in The Picture Of Dorian Gray.

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Parker was nominated for her role in comedy Plaza Suite opposite husband Matthew Broderick.

Fleabag actor Andrew Scott missed out on the Best Actor gong but the show he was nominated for, the Anton Chekhov adaptation of Vanya, took home the Cunard Best Revival.

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(left to right) Simon Stephens, Rosanna Vize, Andrew Scott and Sam Yates in the press room after being presented with the Best Revival award at the Olivier Awards. Pic: PA
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Simon Stephens, Rosanna Vize, Andrew Scott and Sam Yates. Pic: PA

And last year’s Special Award winner Arlene Phillips returned to accept the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer alongside James Cousins for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre.

Emmy winner and multi-Olivier nominee Hannah Waddingham hosted the awards at The Royal Albert Hall in London and opened the show performing Anything Goes accompanied by singer songwriter Joe Stilgoe and the London Community Gospel Choir.

Other winners were:

Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play

WINNER: Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry at the Phoenix Theatre

Best Family Show

WINNER: Dinosaur World Live by Derek Bond at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Mithridate Award for Best Costume Design

WINNER: Marg Horwell for The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Best Musical Revival

WINNER: Sunset Boulevard, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics & book by Don Black & Christopher Hampton at the Savoy Theatre

d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design

WINNER: Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Outstanding Musical Contribution

WINNER: Alan Williams for Musical Supervision & Musical Direction for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Will Close in the press room after being presented with the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award at the Olivier Awards. Pic: PA
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Will Close. Pic: PA

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

WINNER: Will Close for Dear England at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

WINNER: Haydn Gwynne for When Winston Went To War With The Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse

Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design

WINNER: Miriam Buether for Set Design & 59 Productions for Video Design for Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design

WINNER: Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical

WINNER: Amy Trigg for The Little Big Things at @sohoplace

Best Actor in a Supporting Role In a Musical

WINNER: Jak Malone for Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre

TAIT Award for Best New Opera Production

WINNER: Innocence by the Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

WINNER: Antonio Pappano for his role as Musical Director of the Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production

WINNER: La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo, part of Nederlands Dans Theater – NDT 1 at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

WINNER: Isabela Coracy for her performance in NINA: By Whatever Means, part of Ballet Black: Pioneers at the Barbican Theatre

Unusual Rigging Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre

WINNER: Sleepova by Matilda Feyişayo at the Bush Theatre

Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director

WINNER: Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre

The Londoner Award for Best New Play

WINNER: Dear England by James Graham at the National Theatre – Olivier & Prince Edward Theatre

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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

It’s a night of glitz, glamour and high camp, in which pop, rock, disco and opera all come together in one big Eurovision cocktail.

This year’s acts incorporate a giant gold microphone, a sauna – and of course pyrotechnics and fake ice aplenty.

Here are some of the best moments on stage in Basel.

Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters
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Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters

Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP
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Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
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Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
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JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP
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VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
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Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP
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Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP

Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP
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Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP

Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters
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Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters

Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters
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Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters

Erika Vikman performing Ich Komme for Finland. Pic: Reuters
Erika Vikman, representing Finland, performs "ICH KOMME", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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Erika Vikman performs Ich Komme for Finland. Pics: Reuters

Claude singing C'est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters
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Claude singing C’est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters

Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP
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Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
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KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP
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Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP

Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP
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Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP

PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP
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PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP

Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP
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Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP

Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L'Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP
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Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L’Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP

JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters
Image:
JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters

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Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded ‘nul points’

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Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded 'nul points'

Austria has won Eurovision 2025, with Austrian-Filipino singer-songwriter JJ taking the glass microphone.

The 24-year-old singer, who originally trained as a countertenor, represented his country with his operatic ballad Wasted Love, staged on a storm-tossed ship.

The song, which was not dissimilar to that of last year’s winner Nemo, told the story of unrequited love, with a techno breakdown near the end. Austria has won Eurovision twice before, the last time in 2014 with Conchita Wurst’s pop hit Rise Like A Phoenix.

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
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JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7, 2023, attacks which were the catalyst for Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, was the runner-up with piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English.

The singer was left “shaken and upset,” after two pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards her during her grand final performance.

Organisers confirmed a backstage crew member was hit with paint but was not hurt.

A spokesman for SRG SSR said: “At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.

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“They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”

Israel has won Eurovision four times, and last year finished in fifth place with Eden Golan’s Hurricane.

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
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Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

Just as the grand final began broadcasting, Spanish broadcaster shared a message of Palestinian support which read: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”

The broadcaster had already received a warning from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over political statements reported by Israeli broadcaster Kan.

The EBU said in response to the latter incident: “We can confirm that we have spoken to RTVE regarding this matter and made it clear that commentators are expected to maintain neutrality within the broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest.”

During the evening, there were also pro-Palestinian protests near the centre of Basel, as well as a small group nearby protesting with Israeli flags.

Israeli National Security Council had issued a warning to Israeli civilians in the city to keep a low profile during the competition.

In a change from last year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden, the ban on certain flags being waved by the audience was relaxed which meant Palestinian symbols could be seen in the arena.

Read more: Sex, survival and saunas – all the songs to look out for

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
Image:
Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

The UK’s act – country pop trio Remember Monday – who performed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits – avoided the dreaded “nul points”, coming in at 19th place with song What The Hell Just Happened?

However, for the second year running, the UK received no points in the public score.

The UK has had five wins at Eurovision, but in recent years have struggled to rank, with the exception being Sam Ryder with Space Man in 2022, who came second.

Last year, Olly Alexander placed 18th at Malmo, and Mae Muller was second to last the previous year in Liverpool.

The Eurovision grand final took place in the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, with the winner from among the 26 performing nations decided by a mix of public voting and points from national juries.

The four-hour-long show was presented by an all-female team – stand-up comedian Hazel Brugger, TV presenter Michelle Hunziker and Eurovision veteran Sandra Studer.

There were performances by previous Eurovision runners-up Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Finland’s Kaarija, as well as last year’s winner Nemo during the night.

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
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KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Sweden had been widely tipped to win with their sauna-themed entry Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), but ended up coming fourth.

Ukraine, who have made a strong showing each since they first entered the competition in 2003, and who won in 2023, came ninth.

Last year protests and politics overshadowed the singing event amid the outbreak of war in Gaza, with some calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest.

Last year also saw Dutch singer Joost Klein kicked out of the competition by the EBU over alleged verbal threats to a female production worker, which he denied.

Next year’s competition, Eurovision’s 70th, will be held in Austria.

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Rapper charged with GBH – after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over ‘bottle attack’

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Rapper charged with GBH - after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over 'bottle attack'

A second man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after an incident at a London nightclub that allegedly involved US singer Chris Brown.

The Metropolitan Police said Omololu Akinlolu, 38, will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Better known by his stage name HoodyBaby, the American rapper has been charged in connection with an alleged assault at the Tape nightclub in central London in February 2023.

Brown, 36, was charged on Thursday with grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded in custody by judge in Manchester until 13 June.

He is accused of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle during the incident in February.

During a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Brown watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.

She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.

Brown spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, but did not enter a plea.

He will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing in London on 13 June.

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Brown – known for hits such as “Loyal”, “Run It” and “Under the Influence” – was arrested at a hotel in Manchester in the early hours of Thursday by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.

The Grammy Award-winning singer was due to tour the UK in June and July, with dates in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.

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