It's been announced that this year's Laurence Olivier Awards will be broadcast live on Radio 2. It will be the first time that it's ever been aired live on the radio, making it another first for 2010; as previously reported, the ceremony will be broadcast live via the internet for the first time too.

The special two hour radio programme will be hosted by Paul Gambaccini and presented live from the Grosvenor House Hotel in London from 8 – 10pm on 21 March. The web broadcast will be streamed at www.olivierawards.co.uk.

This year's Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony is to be broadcast live via the internet. The event has been televised on previous occasions, but only after the event has taken place, so this will be the first time it will be available to view as it's actually happening.

Philippa Salvoni from awards organisers the Society of London Theatre says: "This is a very exciting development for both the Laurence Olivier Awards and the Society of London Theatre. We are delighted that visitors to our website will be able to enjoy the atmosphere and glamour of this prestigious event".

This year's ceremony takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 21 March, and will be hosted by stage and screen star Anthony Head. The live stream will be available at www.oliverawards.co.uk. You can also use the website to cast your vote in previously reported new Audience Award category.

The Olivier Awards – which, if you didn't already know it, honour West End theatre - have added a new category to their range of gongs, and the new accolade, for Favourite Long Running Show, will be voted for by the general public. Voters have until midday on 1 Feb to cast their vote for one of the twenty eligible shows on the list, which  will then be reduced to a shortlist. Go here to join in  the fun: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/vote

And here, just to make this story look a little longer, are the shows that are eligible:

Blood Brothers
Hairspray
Jersey Boys
Mamma Mia
La Cage Aux Folles
War Horse
Les Misérables
The 39 Steps
Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage
The Woman in Black
The Mousetrap
Avenue Q
Grease
Stomp
Billy Elliot - The Musical
The Phantom of the Opera
Wicked
The Lion King
Chicago
We Will Rock You