Olivier honour for actor Stewart

Stewart won an Olivier in 1979 for Anthony and Cleopatra

Actor Patrick Stewart has won a third Laurence Olivier award for his role of Claudius in Hamlet.

Stewart landed best supporting actor for the Royal Shakespeare Company production, which starred David Tennant in the title role.

Sir Derek Jacobi won best actor for playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night, with Douglas Hodge winning for his cross-dressing role in La Cage Aux Folles.

The musical was also named best revival at the London ceremony.

Special award

Jersey Boys scooped the best new musical title, with Elena Roger winning best actress in a musical for playing French songstress Edith Piaf.

Margaret Tyzack was the winner of best actress in a play for portraying the wife of writer Somerset Maugham in The Chalk Garden.

Argentinian star Roger was recognised for her portrayal of Edith Piaf

The Histories picked up a pair of awards, for best revival of a play and best company performance, while best new play was The Black Watch.

The Barbican production, which transferred from the National Theatre of Scotland, went on to collect three other awards.

A special Olivier award was presented to playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn by Kevin Spacey, director of London's Old Vic.

The Oliviers are presented by The Society of London Theatre to honour the best West End stage productions.

They were first held in 1976 and became known as the Olivier Awards in 1984 when actor Sir Laurence Olivier agreed to them being named after him.