Izzard to appear at theatre awards

Eddie Izzard, who is about to return to the West End stage, is to present a sought-after theatre comedy award

The comic is to hand over the Best Comedy prize in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards at London's Savoy Hotel.

He is currently in rehearsals to take the lead in the revival of A Day In The Death of Joe Egg,

Izzard told the Standard: "It's a great opportunity for me. I feel that I'm in agood position to be tackling a role that involves both black humour and drama."

And he said of the awards ceremony: "I've been to it once before, and it was a good experience because it doesn't take itself too seriously.

The nominees for the prize Izzard will be handing out areRay Cooney's Caught In The Net, the political satire Feelgood and Yasmina Reza's Life x 3.

Rory Bremner will host the event.

Published: 20 Nov 2001