EXETER actor and singer Will Young has been added to the star-studded bill for the prestigious Olivier Awards evening in London.
The Exeter University graduate is nominated in the Best Actor in a Musical category for his debut musical performance on the London stage in Cabaret.
He will join the cast of Rufus Norris's acclaimed production, and the full companies of A Chorus Line and Top Hat, who will entertain with pieces created especially for the awards.
The Bodyguard star and Best Actress in a Musical nominee Heather Headley will sing the goose bump creating I Will Always Love You.
Young, 34, studied politics at Exeter University before winning the TV show Pop Idol in 2002 to start his showbusiness career. His most recent album release Echoes became his third UK number one and he has appeared in films and TV series including Bedlam and Skins.
Last year Young released an autobiography called Funny Peculiar.
Performers at the 37th Olivier Awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House on April 28 include Broadway stars and Glee co-actors Matthew Morrison and IdinaMenzel.
International stars Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the films based on the JK Rowling novels, and Homeland star Damian Lewis, are confirmed to open the life-changing golden envelopes.
There will be solo performances by Tony Award-winning Wicked star Menzel and Tony Award- nominated Morrison, who will be flying into the UK especially for the one-off exclusive appearance which marks his first ever performance at a major UK event.
The evening will also see West End veteran Petula Clark perform. The actress, who has performed the lead role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard more times than any other actress, is also a hugely successful recording artist and appears at the ceremony in her 80th year.
Speaking about performing at the event, Menzel described herself as "absolutely delighted to have been invited to sing," adding, "It will be a great honour to perform in the company of Britain's theatre elite on such a special night. I can't wait to be back in London."
In another Olivier Awards exclusive, Busted and Son Of Dork musician James Bourne will sing from his nominated musical Loserville, which was based on his concept album Welcome To Loserville.
Lewis and Radcliffe will be joined by fellow actors Kim Cattrall, Lee Evans, RomolaGarai, Lily James and David Suchet, as well and presenter and musician MyleeneKlass, and comedian Tim Minchin who is no stranger to the event having triumphed at last year's ceremony for his part in the record-breaking, seven-time winner Matilda The Musical.
There will be a West End-themed free public event in Covent Garden's Piazza on the night of the awards.
West End star and former Olivier Award nominee Michael Xavier and BBC Radio 2's Claudia Winkleman will oversee proceedings at the BBC Radio 2 Stage, where the public are invited to gather on 28 April to watch special live performances from shows including Billy Elliot The Musical, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Burn The Floor, Potted Potter and Some Like It Hip Hop. Attendees will then be able to watch the excitement unfold with a live big screen relay of the glittering ceremony held at the other equally iconic Covent Garden space, the Royal Opera House.
For those unable to make it down to the Piazza there are plenty of ways to tune into events. ITV will broadcast a highlights programme following the ceremony, while BBC Radio 2 will be broadcasting the entire ceremony live from the Royal Opera House from 18:00 with Ken Bruce and Anneka Rice hosting the evening's entertainment.
The exciting details of this year's event follow last week's nominees announcement with a host of stars celebrated for their incredible achievements in the theatre capital of the world, from stage and screen veterans Helen Mirren, Rupert Everett and Kristin Scott Thomas to newcomers Luke Treadaway and Tom Chambers.
You can keep up to date with all the latest news on www.olivierawards.com or by following the Olivier Awards on Twitter. Join in the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, Tumbler and YouTube using #Oliviers and you'll also be in the chance of winning award prizes.
