HAIRSPRAY LEADS OLIVIER NOMINATIONS

The stage musical version of HAIRSPRAY is set for a big night at Britain's Olivier Awards after landing a record 11 nominations.

The colourful song and dance spectacular will compete for Best Musical, while its stars LeAnne Jones and Michael Ball are among the Best Actress and Best Actor in A Musical nominees.

Director Jack O'Brien is also up for an Olivier as are castmates Tracie Bennett and Elinor Collett.

Hairspray will be up against The Drowsy Chaperone, The Lord of The Rings and Parade for the Best New Musical prize. The shows join Fiddler on The Roof, The Little Shop of Horrors and plays Othello, Saint Joan and Macbeth among the multi-Olivier nominees.

Veteran stars and X-Men castmates Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart will fight for the Best Actor honour for lead roles in William Shakespeare's King Lear and Macbeth respectively.

Withnail + I star Richard E. Grant will host the Olivier Awards in London on 9 March (08).