Gervais leads Bafta TV nominees

The Office creator Ricky Gervais has topped the shortlist for this year's Bafta TV awards with a total of three nominations.

The final of the comedy series, broadcast on BBC One over Christmas, has been nominated in the 'Best Sitcom' category. Ricky Gervais and costar Martin Freeman both get nods for 'Best Comedy Performance'.

The show will face tough competition from fellow BBC comedy Little Britain, also with three nominations, including 'Best Comedy Performance' nominations for Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

Up for 'Best Actor' are Jim Broadbent for The Young Visiters, Christopher Eccleston for The Second Coming and David Morrissey and Bill Nighy for State of Play.

'Best Actress' nominees include Gina McKee and Miranda Richardson for The Lost Prince, Helen Mirren for Prime Suspect and Julie Walters for The Wife of Bath - Canterbury Tales.

As reported last week, EastEnders has been omitted from the 'Best Continuing Drama' category for the first time ever. Coronation Street now leads the pack alongside cop drama The Bill and BBC medical series Casualty and Holby City.

Davina McCall will host the awards, which will take place at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on April 18.