TV soap rivals set for awards battle

Soap rivals EastEnders and Coronation Street will tonight battle it out for top TV honours at this year's British National Television Awards.

The popular prime time soaps each have four nominations. Both are contenders for the most popular serial drama with Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.

Feisty loudmouths Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater in Eastenders) and Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald in Coronation Street) have both been nominated for the most popular actress award.

Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, Wallace’s on-off boyfriend in the soap, will be competing against the Street’s serial killer, Richard Hillman, played by Brian Capron, for the title of most popular actor.

Corrie bitch Kate Ford (Tracy Preston) is vying for the best newcomer status against Albert Square’s bad boy Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman).

The awards ceremony, which will be broadcasted live on ITV1 from London’s Royal Albert Hall, will be hosted by Trevor McDonald and presented on ITV2 by Tess Daly.

Cutting It, the hair salon drama starring Amanda Holden, is also up for nominations in the awards which are voted entirely by the viewing public, although she has received no nominations.

The BBC show is up for most popular drama, alongside A Touch of Frost, Bad Girls and The Bill.

The show’s Jason Merrells (Gavin Farraday) has been nominated for most popular actor and Sarah Parish (Allie Henshall) for most popular actress.

Big Brother presenter Davina McCall is up for best entertainment presenter with Ant and Dec, Ireland's Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross.

And after the glut of reality TV shows over the past few years, it is no surprise to see a new category for the best one, with contenders including Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out Of Here, Jamie’s Kitchen and SAS: Are You Tough Enough?

The awards will be broadcast live on ITV1 at 8pm.

Here are some of the nominations:

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter:

:: Davina McCall

:: Ant and Dec

:: Graham Norton

:: Jonathan Ross

Most Popular Serial Drama:

:: Hollyoaks

:: EastEnders

:: Coronation Street

:: Emmerdale

Most Popular Actress:

:: Jessie Wallace (EastEnders)

:: Suranne Jones (Coronation Street)

:: Amanda Burton (Silent Witness)

:: Amanda Redman (At Home With The Braithwaites)

:: Sarah Parish (Cutting It)

Most Popular Actor:

:: Brian Capron (Coronation Street)

:: Shane Richie (EastEnders)

:: David Jason (A Touch of Frost)

:: Martin Clunes (William and Mary)

:: Jason Merrells (Cutting It)

Most Popular Newcomer:

:: Nigel Harman (EastEnders)

:: Kate Ford (Coronation Street)

:: Charley Webb (Emmerdale)

:: Daniel MacPherson (The Bill)

:: Zoie Kennedy (The Royal)

Most Popular Drama:

:: Cutting It

:: The Bill

:: A Touch of Frost

:: Bad Girls

Most Popular Reality Show:

:: Big Brother

:: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

:: Jamie’s Kitchen

:: SAS: Are You Tough Enough?

Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme:

:: Bargain Hunt

:: Antiques Roadshow

:: GMTV

:: Life Of Grime

Most Popular Entertainment Programme

:: The Osbournes

:: V Graham Norton

:: Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

:: Friday Night With Jonathan Ross

Most Popular Quiz Show:

:: The Weakest Link

:: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

:: A Question Of Sport

:: Have I Got News For You

Most Popular Comedy Programme

:: Cold Feet

:: My Family

:: Last Of The Summer Wine

:: Friends

Most Popular Comedy Performer

:: Alistair McGowan

:: Dawn French

:: James Nesbitt

:: Robert Lindsay