Paddington sweeps Olivier Awards

The stage adaptation of the beloved bear's adventures proved to be the biggest winner of the night, capturing awards for its lead actors, supporting cast, and technical achievements.

Other major winners included Rachel Zegler, who won Best Actress in a Musical for her West End debut in Evita, and Paapa Essiedu, named Best Actor for his role in the legal drama Inter Alia.

Rosamund Pike also secured a top acting prize, while the veteran Bryan Cranston was among the high-profile nominees.

The ceremony, hosted by Nick Mohammed, marked the first time in 23 years the event was broadcast live by the BBC.