Gervais up for Bafta hat-trick

Comic Ricky Gervais is in line for another Bafta after being nominated for the cream of British TV awards for a third year running.

But Gervais could find that his third Comedy Performance award, for his portrayal of nightmare boss David Brent, could be snatched out of his hands by his co-star Martin Freeman.

Freeman, who plays The Office's downtrodden Tim, is also in the running for the comedy award together with Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

The Office has received its third consecutive nomination for best Situation Comedy, which it has won for the past two years. This year it has been nominated for The Office Christmas Special.

The announcement will be good news for Golden Globe-winning Gervais, after his name was initially missed off the nominations list because of an administrative bungle by the BBC.

The Office Christmas Special has three nominations along with Have I Got News for You, Little Britain and BBC1 conspiracy thriller State of Play.

Bill Nighy, who was named best Supporting Actor for his role in British hit Love Actually at the Bafta film awards, will be hoping for a Bafta double at next month's TV awards ceremony.

Nighy and co-star David Morrissey are both nominated in the Actor category for their performances in State of Play, which is also up for Drama Serial.

Other Actor nominees are Jim Broadbent, for his part in BBC1 adaptation The Young Visiters, and the new Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston for his part in ITV1's The Second Coming.

EastEnders has failed to make the shortlist for the award for best Continuing Drama - which has seen The Bill, Casualty, Coronation Street and Holby City pick up nominations.

Most watched News videos