BAFTA TV Awards: Killing Eve leads the way and will take on Bodyguard for best drama
There are acting nominations for Keeley Hawes, Hugh Grant and Benedict Cumberbatch, but a surprise snub for Richard Madden.
Thursday 28 March 2019 10:34, UK
Killing Eve leads the way with 14 nominations at the BAFTA TV Awards, and will take on ratings heavyweight Bodyguard in the best drama category.
The BBC shows enjoyed critically-acclaimed debut seasons last year, and stars from both have also been recognised in acting categories ahead of the 2019 ceremony in May.
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh have both been nominated for best leading actress for their roles in Killing Eve, and they are joined by Keeley Hawes for Bodyguard and Ruth Wilson for Mrs Wilson - another BBC production.
Hawes is also up for best supporting actress for her role in Mrs Wilson. She will compete for that gong with Fiona Shaw for Killing Eve, Monica Dolan for A Very English Scandal and Billie Piper for Collateral.
Another BBC drama, A Very English Scandal, is second only to Killing Eve for total nominations with 12.
Hugh Grant, who has been in contention three times at the BAFTA Film Awards, is up for best leading actor for his role in the series, which covered the downfall of politician Jeremy Thorpe.
Among those up against him is Benedict Cumberbatch for his performance in Sky Atlantic miniseries Patrick Melrose, in which he played the titular role.
His is one of six nominations for the show, ahead of the five received for Bodyguard and The Little Drummer Girl.
One surprise snub for Bodyguard is the lack of a leading actor nomination for star Richard Madden, who has been tipped to be cast as the next James Bond on the back of his Golden Globe-winning performance.
Those picked ahead of him alongside Grant and Cumberbatch are Chance Perdomo for Killed Be My Debt, which aired online on BBC Three, and Kiri star Lucian Msamati.
Up for best supporting actor are Ben Whishaw for A Very English Scandal, Kim Bodnia for Killing Eve, Stephen Graham for Save Me, and Alex Jennings for Unforgotten.
Another Sky production, A League Of Their Own, has been nominated in the best comedy entertainment programme category, where it will compete with The Big Narstie Show, The Last Leg and Would I Lie To You?.
Ant & Dec were separated for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity but they have been nominated for best entertainment performance for their ITV favourite Saturday Night Takeaway, which is also up for best entertainment programme.
It will contest the award with Britain's Got Talent, Michael McIntyre's Big Show and Strictly Come Dancing.
The other entertainment performance nominees are Lee Mack and David Mitchell, both up for Would I Lie To You?, and comedian Rachel Parris for The Mash Report.
Elsewhere, national favourite The Great British Bake Off has been nominated in the features category, while the interactive Netflix drama Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is up for single drama.
One category - must see moment - will be voted upon by the public and features scenes from Bodyguard, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Killing Eve, Peter Kay's Car Share and Queer Eye.
The Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards take place in London on 12 May.