TV Nominations in 2008: A Closer Look

18 March 08

This year’s TV nominations recognise an eclectic mix of old and new talent, with many first-time nominees. Here’s a closer look at a few of this year’s nominated programmes.

Judi Dench’s nomination for her role as Matty Jenkyns in 19th century period drama Cranford brings her running tally of BAFTA television nominations to an impressive 12. Her co-star Eileen Atkins, who was last nominated for a TV BAFTA in 1969, is also competing in this category. Joining them in the Actress category are first-time nominee Kierston Wareing for her role in Ken Loach’s It’s A Free World, and previous winner (for Our Friends In The North) Gina McKee, who’s nominated for her role in The Street.

All four men in the Actor category are first-time nominees: Andrew Garfield for Boy A, in which he played a rehabilitated child criminal released into society as an adult, Tom Hardy for his eponymous role as a homeless man with a traumatic past in Stuart: A Life Backwards, Matthew Macfadyen for his role in paedophile drama Secret Life and Antony Sher, who portrayed Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi in Primo.

The Comedy Programme category also comprises first-time nominees with The Armstong & Miller Show and Russell Brand’s Ponderland competing with celebrity satire Star Stories and the mischievous Fonejacker.

‘Culinary alchemist’ Heston Blumenthal receives his first nomination in the Features category for Heston Blumenthal: In Search of Perfection, in which he attempted to create the perfect example of much-loved dishes (chilli con carne, hamburgers etc). He is nominated alongside rival chef show Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (which won in 2005), as well as The Secret Millionaire and Top Gear.

Time-travelling cop drama Life On Mars, which triumphed with last year’s Audience Award, is nominated again for Drama Series, competing with E4’s teen drama Skins, BBC Two’s Rome and last year’s winner The Street.

In the hotly-contested Continuing Drama category, The Bill receives its second BAFTA nomination, joined by Holby City and previous winners EastEnders and Emmerdale. For Drama Serial, James Nesbitt’s undercover cop drama Murphy’s Law gets its first-ever nomination, facing competition from taut crime thriller Five Days, Britz (Peter Kosminsky’s drama about two British-born Muslim siblings), and Cranford.

Paul Merton, who has been nominated on ten occasions for Have I Got News For You, has picked up his 11th nomination, this time in the Factual Series category for Paul Merton in China. Also nominated in this category are Meet The Natives, The Tower: A Tale of Two Cities and Tribe.

The BBC’s Men’s Wimbledon Final is nominated for the first time since Bjorn Borg faced John McEnroe in 1980. It faces three ITV rivals in the Sport category, including the Boat Race, last year’s winner Formula One (this time for F1:Canadian Grand Prix Live) and the England v France Semi-Final of the Rugby World Cup.

Each of the major news outlets are recognised in this year’s News Coverage category: BBC Ten O’Clock News: War in Afghanistan, Channel 4 News: Iraq - The Surge, ITV Evening News: Zimbabwe – The Tyranny & the Tragedy and Sky News for its Glasgow Airport Attack.

Meanwhile, for Interactivity, Dr Who Comic Maker, Spooks Interactive, The X Factor and Channel 4’s Big Art Mob fight it out.

Stephen Merchant and David Mitchell receive individual acclaim this year in the Comedy Performance category for Extras Christmas Special and Peep Show respectively. They go up against first-time nominee James Corden for Gavin and Stacey and previous winner Peter Capaldi for The Thick of It.

The Sky+ Audience Award for Programme of the Year is the only Award decided by the public, and honours the most loved and admired programmes of 2007. The shortlist comprises: