Baftas put reality shows to public vote

Reality shows including Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor will be put to the public vote for a new Bafta television award.

Viewers will be asked to choose the programme that "helped define TV" in 2005, which will win The Pioneer Audience Award. Other nominees are Jamie's School Dinners, The Catherine Tate Show, The Apprentice, Bleak House, Doctor Who and Desperate Housewives.

The text message vote – for the only Bafta award to be decided by the public - will be opened on March 17. The shortlist was compiled by producers, presenters and journalists from the TV industry.

The winner will be revealed in London on May 7 and the ceremony screened on ITV1 the following evening.