Ben Whishaw and Hugh Grant vie for best actor at Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
They are nominated for their turns in A Very English Scandal, which receives four nods across three categories.
A Very English Scandal co-stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw will compete for the prize of best actor at this year’s Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.
The pair are nominated for their parts in the miniseries, which entertained viewers with its deft combination of drama and farce.
Ben Whishaw has the edge after winning a Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or television film.
The BBC production followed Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe (Grant) and his attempts to cover up an affair with ex-lover Norman Josiffe (Whishaw) in the late 1970s.
Benedict Cumberbatch could also claim the prize for his turn as Patrick Melrose in the tale of drug addiction and abuse based on the semi-autobiographical novels of Edward St Aubin.
But it could be Killing Eve that claims the most prizes on the night.
The spy thriller earns a total of six nods – the most of any show this year – in categories including best online first or streaming, best writer for Phoebe Waller-Bridge and best drama series.
In the best actress category, Keeley Hawes features twice for her roles as fictional home secretary Julia Montague in Bodyguard and Dorothy Wick in Mrs Wilson.
Ruth Wilson also secures a nomination for her turn in Mrs Wilson – the drama based on the life of her grandmother.
They face stiff competition from Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer – who are both nominated for their parts in the cat-and-mouse spy thriller.
A Very English Scandal, Mrs Wilson and BBC One’s The ABC Murders, based on the Agatha Christie novel, compete for best single drama or miniseries.
In an especially strong category Bodyguard, Killing Eve and Patrick Melrose are nominated as best drama series alongside ITV’s Vanity Fair.
In the streaming category, the body recognises Killing Eve once again, Black Mirror’s interactive special Bandersnatch and the comedies This Country and People Just Do Nothing.
The awards are chosen by an independent panel of critics, previewers, media correspondents and feature writers and celebrate the best of TV commissioned and produced in the UK.
The 45th annual BPG Awards will be held at Banking Hall in London on March 15.
