James McArdle wins 2015 Ian Charleson Award

Scottish actor James McArdle has won the 2015 Ian Charleson Award for his role as the title character in Platonov at Chichester Festival Theatre.

The prize, awarded by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre, recognises outstanding performances by actors under 30 anywhere in the UK playing a classical role in a play written before 1918.

Second place was awarded to Elliot Barnes-Worrell, for his role as Straker in Man & Superman (National Theatre), while third place went to Freddie Fox, who played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Crucible).

Other finalists included Joel MacCormack, Ken Nwosu, Joshua James, Jack Colgrave Hirst, Jenny Rainsford, Jessica Brown Findlay, Emily Barber and Jessica Baglow.

This year's judges were Wendy Spon, Michael Grandage, John Peter and Deborah Findlay, and the guest of honour at the event was Meera Syal.