Amanda Holden steps out for first time since baby tragedy

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has made her first public appearance after losing her baby nearly six weeks ago.

The 40-year-old actress presented David Thaxton with the award for Best Actor in a Musical at the Olivier Awards in London.

Holden, who was dressed in a royal blue floor-length gown for the occasion, later said on Twitter that she had received a "lovely welcome". "Hope it's the first of many," she told her followers.

She was seven months pregnant when her baby boy, with husband music executive Chris Hughes, stopped moving and was later stillborn.

After losing a baby last year, Holden only revealed the most recent pregnancy in January when she was six months pregnant.

The couple have a five-year-old daughter, Lexi.

Meanwhile, Angela Lansbury made her debut on stage at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane as she paid tribute to American composer Stephen Sondheim at the awards ceremony.

The 85-year-old, who was born and bred in London but has spent most of her career in the United States, returned to the capital for this year's Olivier Awards.

She joined theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh on stage to present the Society of London Theatre's Special Award to Sondheim.

The British-born actress said she presented the award with "great, great pride and deep affection".

Sondheim, whose hits include West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and A Little Night Music, received a standing ovation.

He spoke about the influence of British theatre on his career and paid tribute to Mackintosh, saying he was a man "whose friendship I treasure, who is the best producer I've ever worked with and one of the best people".

A revival of Terence Rattigan's After the Dance picked up the first prize of the night.

Presenting the award for Best Revival, Sir Patrick Stewart admitted revivals had been something of "a dirty word" in the past but said the nominated plays represented the "extraordinary diversity of London theatre".

Accepting the award, the play's director Thea Sharrock joked: "I'm a huge Arsenal fan so I'm not used to winning".

After the Dance, which played at the National Theatre on London's SouthBank, beat three other nominees including King Lear and Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

It also picked up awards for Nancy Carroll for Best Actress, Adrian Scarborough for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Costume Design.

Speaking backstage, Carroll said the success of the play was "a testament to Rattigan".

She said: "I don't know what it was about that particular moment in time.

"I just think it is a superb play and I hope it will be done even more."

The night's other big success was Legally Blonde - The Musical.

Former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny won the Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her part in it and the star of the show, Sheridan Smith, won the award for Best Actress in a Musical.

The tearful actress thanked "everyone who let a chav play an American rich girl".

Roger Allam carried off the Best Actor award for his performance as Falstaff in Henry IV Parts one and two at Shakespeare's Globe.

The Audience Award, voted for by Radio 2 listeners, went to the Queen musical We Will Rock You.

Shameless star Anne-Marie Duff struggled to open the envelope to announce the winner of the Best Entertainment Award.

She collapsed into giggles after she said: "I can't get it out. First time I've said that", before presenting the award to the version of The Railway Children produced at London's Waterloo Station.