It’s not often that Dame Judi Dench gets nominated alongside a convicted forger, but the shortlist for the 34th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards places the Cranford actress alongside John Myatt, the presenter of Sky Arts’ Mastering the Art.
Dame Judi is nominated as the best actress for her appearance in the BBC One costume drama, as is Eileen Atkins. Cranford also has two nominations for the best actor (Michael Gambon and Philip Glenister) as well as a nomination for the Best Drama series.
Three Channel 4 dramas have been shortlisted in the best single drama award catagory: Boy A, Britz and The Mark of Cain. They will compete against ITV1’s My Boy Jack and BBC Two’s Maxwell.
The contenders in the Multichannel Award are Falklands: The Islanders’ War (The History Channel), Mastering the Art (Sky Arts) and The Leaders (CNBC). The History Channel follows the story of the Argentinean invasion from the perspective of those living on the Island. Myatt’s talent is put to better use in Mastering the Art as he demonstrates and explains the skill of the artist to a mixed group of students with a nod to the reality genre. The Leaders questions former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, now in his mid 80s.
In the innovation award the BBC iPlayer is shortlisted alongside Bebo’s drama series, Kate Modern; and the website for Channel 4’s Skins.
The Extras Christmas Special on BBC One is challenging for the best comedy/entertainment award, competing with Armstrong & Miller, Gavin & Stacey and Strictly Come Dancing. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have also been shortlisted for the writer’s award.
The full list of nominations is:
Single Drama:
Boy A (Channel 4)
Britz (Channel 4)
Maxwell (BBC Two)
My Boy Jack (ITV1)
The Mark of Cain (Channel 4)
Drama Series:
Cranford (BBC One)
Five Days (BBC One)
Oliver Twist (BBC One)
Party Animals (BBC Two)
Comedy/Entertainment:
Armstrong & Miller (BBC One)
Extras Xmas Special (BBC One)
Gavin & Stacey (BBC Two & Three)
Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One)
Factual Entertainment:
Jamie at Home (Channel 4)
The Restaurant (BBC Two)
£800m Railway Station (BBC Two)
Top Gear (BBC Two)
Documentary Series:
Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain (BBC Two)
Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS? (BBC Two)
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (BBC One)
The Genius of Photography (BBC Four)
Single Documentary:
Dispatches: China’s Stolen Children (Channel 4)
Malcolm & Barbara: Love’s Farewell (ITV1)
Stephen Fry: HIV and Me (BBC Two)
Multichannel:
Falklands: The Islanders’ War (The History Channel)
Mastering the Art (Sky Arts)
The Leaders (CNBC)
Actor:
Philip Glenister for Life on Mars, Cranford (BBC One)
David Suchet for Maxwell (BBC Two)
Andrew Garfield for Boy A (Channel 4) and Freezing (BBC Four)
Michael Gambon for Joe’s Palace, Cranford (BBC One), Celebration (BBC Four)
Actress:
Eileen Atkins for Cranford, Ballet Shoes (BBC One)
Judi Dench for Cranford (BBC One)
Maggie Smith for Capturing Mary (BBC Two)
Gina McKee for The Street (BBC One), The Old Curiosity Shop (ITV1)
Non acting performer/presenter:
Andrew Marr for Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain (BBC Two), The Andrew Marr Show (BBC One)
Stephen Fry for Stephen Fry: HIV and Me, QI (BBC Two)
Harry Hill for Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1)
Ross Kemp for Ross Kemp on Gangs (Sky One)
Jeremy Clarkson for Top Gear (BBC Two)
Writer:
Heidi Thomas for Cranford, Ballet Shoes, Lilies (BBC One)
Tony Marchant for The Mark of Cain (Channel 4); The Whistleblowers (ITV1); Recovery (BBC One)
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for Extras Christmas Special (BBC One)
Stephen Poliakoff for Joe’s Palace (BBC One); Capturing Mary, A Real Summer (BBC Two)
Radio Broadcaster of the Year:
Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie (Radio 2)
Simon Mayo (Radio 5 Live)
Eddie Mair, PM (Radio 4)
Martha Kearney, The World at One (Radio 4)
Radio Programme of the Year:
Adam and Joe Show (BBC 6 Music)
The News Quiz (Radio 4)
Beyond Belief (Radio 4)
The Chris Moyles Show (Radio 1)
Innovation Award:
BBC iPlayer, for making TV downloading a mass market service.
Bebo’s Kate Modern, for pioneering online drama.
Channel 4’s Skins, for its use of the web and social networks, before and after broadcast.
