Award double for Radcliffe's Equus debut

Daniel Radcliffe has scooped two top theatre awards for his West End debut in Equus - including one for his naked torso.

The Harry Potter star was named the West End's Newcomer of the Year and his racy publicity shots took the prize for Theatre Event of the Year at the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards.

He said: "I'm truly delighted and thank everyone so much for voting for me. Equus is a tremendous and thought-provoking play and I'm so proud and honoured to have been a part of this incredible production."

Meanwhile, Hairspray led the winners with seven awards, including Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Michael Ball and Best Actress in a Musical for Leanne Jones.

The show's producer, Bill Taylor, said: "To win any award for a show you really believe in and has been a privilege to put on stage is great news, but to win seven is an absolute delight."

Other winners included Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was named Best Musical Revival, Sir Ian McKellen for Best Actor in a Play for his role as King Lear and The Lady From Dubuque's Dame Maggie Smith for Best Actress in a Play.

The supporting actor and actress categories were won by comic Lee Evans for The Dumb Waiter and Dame Diana Rigg for All About My Mother.

The winners will collect their awards on Sunday night at London's Lyric Theatre.

The Whatsonstage.com awards are the only major theatre prizes decided by the public, and more than 25,000 people cast their votes.

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