Aycliffe's Mark Gatiss wins best actor at Olivier Awards

Mark Gatiss, born in Sedgefield, took home the best actor in a play award on Sunday (April 14) for his role in The Motive and The Cue at The National Theatre.

The ceremony, held at the Royal Albert Hall, was hosted by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.

Gatiss, who grew up in School Aycliffe, thanked his husband, actor and writer Ian Hallard, for putting up with his “haircut” when accepting the prize.

He also corrected the announcer after they had pronounced his name wrong, saying “it is Gatiss.”

The actor, who went to school in Newton Aycliffe, beat UK actors Joseph Fiennes, who played England manager Gareth Southgate in Dear England, Happy Valley’s James Norton, Doctor Who star and Scottish actor David Tennant and Irish star Andrew Scott.

Meanwhile, Succession star Sarah Snook won best actress in a play for her performance in the one-woman show The Picture Of Dorian Gray.

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Snook paid tribute to Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, for coming up with the story in the first place and paid tribute to the one-woman show’s production staff and director.

The Olivier for best new play went to Dear England by James Graham, who thanked the teachers at his Nottingham comprehensive school which he said was in the “red wall”.

Best actress in a supporting role went to When Winston Went To War With The Wireless star Haydn Gwynne, who died last year at the age of 66, and Will Close scooped up a best supporting actor win for Dear England at the National Theatre.