Irish stars in line for British TV accolades
The awards’ shortlist, unveiled today, includes chatshow host Graham Norton, comedian Dara Ó Briain, television presenter Christine Bleakley, and actor Emmett J Scanlan.
Norton has been nominated for the entertainment programme trophy for The Graham Norton Show.
However, the West Cork presenter faces stiff competition.
Also up for the award is the Bafta award-winning reality series The Only Way is Essex, rival talk show Alan Carr: Chatty Man, and I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.
Mock the Week, fronted by O’Briain, has been nominated for the comedy panel show award after another hilarious series of the topical panel show.
Wicklow-born Ó Briain’s show is up against Have I Got News For You, QI, and Would I Lie to You.
Flying the flag for Ireland in the talent show category is Newry-born Christine Bleakley, with Dancing on Ice, on which she is a presenter, nominated for the highly contended prize.
The other category nominees are The Voice UK, Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor, and Britain’s Got Talent.
The big question is whether Bleakley and the Dancing on Ice team can skate to glory or if multiple winner The X Factor will manage to hold on to the title for yet another year.
Elsewhere, Scanlan, from Dublin, made the cut in the serial drama performance category for his role as Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks.
The Irish actor will have to fend off stiff competition from Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall and Michelle Keegan, as well as Adam Woodyatt of EastEnders.
Dublin comedian Brendan O’Carroll hopes to scoop the situation comedy trophy for Mrs Brown’s Boys while Armagh actor Colin Morgan is up for the drama performance male category for his lead role in Merlin.
The awards event, which takes place in London on Jan 23 and will be broadcast on ITV1 from 7.30pm, is the only awards show voted entirely by viewers.
* nationaltvawards.com.
