Kenneth Branagh announced as Special Award winner at the Olivier Awards

Kenneth Branagh has been announced as the winner of a special achievement award at this year's Olivier Awards.

The Olivier Awards will take place this year at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9 April. Branagh's award will be presented to him in recognition of his 'outstanding contribution to British theatre.'

Branagh won the Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in 1982 and his career since has spanned theatre, TV and film as an actor, director and producer. His most recent appearance in London was part of Plays at the Garrick, his West End season where he starred in The Entertainer, The Painkiller and The Winter's Tale.

Previous recipients of the award include Judi Dench and Kevin Spacey.

It has also been announced that Denise Gough and Matt Henry will present the Olivier Award nominees on Facebook Live.

The announcement of the nominations take place on Monday 6 March at midday. Gough won last year's Best Actress Award for People, Places and Things, and Henry won last year's Best Actor in a Musical Award for Kinky Boots.