James Corden Backed By Bookies To Bag Tony Award

Bookies Back Corden For Tony Award Glory

James Corden has been nominated for a prestigious Tony Award for the Broadway production of his hit show One Man, Two Guvnors, and according to the bookies, is even money to emerge victorious.

The actor - who won acclaim for his London run of the show - faces eminent names for the title of best leading actor in a play, including Philip Seymour Hoffman and James Earl Jones (full list of Tony Award nominees here).

Despite that, the bookies have him at 10/1 to collect the gong, and for the play to win in the best original score and best featured actor categories.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "Corden's the Guvnor of Broadway. One Man, Two Guvnors has taken the Big Apple by storm and we fancy it to do the business next month."

Corden, 33, was also nominated for an Olivier Award for his West End stint in the show but lost out to Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein.

The star, known to TV viewers for Gavin And Stacey, hosted the Brit Awards in February and famously interrupted Adele as she made her winner's speech at the climax of the show.

Corden, who opened on Broadway last month, said today: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be nominated for a Tony Award and to see my name on a list with these four American acting legends is overwhelming."

He is up against Hoffman for Death Of A Salesman, Jones for The Best Man, Frank Langella for Man And Boy and John Lithgow for The Columnist.

Former Coronation Street actress Tracie Bennett is another British hopeful for this year's awards. She has been nominated for her role as Judy Garland in End Of The Rainbow.

Bennett, 50, is known to TV audiences for her role as Corrie's Sharon Gaskell and has gone on to have a lengthy stage career in productions such as Les Miserables and Hairspray. She played Garland in a West End run of End Of The Rainbow which began in 2010.

Bennett is battling for the leading actress in a play against stars such as Sex And The City's Cynthia Nixon.

A stage version of the low-budget Irish movie hit Once leads the shortlist with 11 nominations. The musical, love story about an Irish busker and a Czech flower seller, features the Oscar-winning song Falling Slowly.

The music was written by The Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who together record as Swell Season.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's hits Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita have both been nominated for best musical revival, along with Follies and Porgy and Bess.

The winners will be announced on 10 June.

Tony Award 2012 Nominees

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