Six Feet Under is a dead cert with 23 Emmy bids

SIX FEET UNDER, the macabre drama about life and death in an undertakers' parlour, has received a record 23 Emmy nominations.

While Emmy favourite The West Wing was a close second with 21 nominations, top bids also went to actor Michael Chiklis, star of the violent and volatile cable police drama The Shield, and the sardonic comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Besides a best drama series mention, Six Feet Under, shown on Channel 4, also earned a half-dozen nominations for cast members including best actor nominees Peter Krause and Michael Hall and best actress nominees Rachel Griffiths and Frances Conroy.