Cranford picks up six nominations for the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards

Published Thursday 28 February 2008 at 12:00 by Matthew Hemley

BBC1 drama Cranford has received six nominations for this year’s Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, with its stars Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins going head to head in the best actress category.

The pair are up against Maggie Smith, who is nominated for BBC2 drama Capturing Mary and Gina McKee, who is nominated for her performances in both BBC1’s The Street and ITV’s The Old Curiosity Shop.

In the best actor category, Cranford stars Philip Glenister and Michael Gambon are both nominated, alongside David Suchet for BBC2’s Maxwell and Andrew Garfield for Channel 4’s Boy A.

Boy A is also up for the best single drama award, along with Channel 4’s Britz and The Mark of Cain, ITV’s My Boy Jack and BBC2’s Maxwell, while Cranford, Oliver Twist, Party Animals and Five Days are nominated for best drama series.

In the category of best writer, Cranford’s Heidi Thomas will battle it out against The Mark of Cain’s Tony Marchant, Capturing Mary’s Stephen Poliakoff and Extras’ Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Extras is also up for the best comedy or entertainment award, alongside BBC1’s Armstrong and Miller, BBC3’s Gavin and Stacey and BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The winners of the awards, which are selected by journalists who write about television and radio, will be announced at a ceremony to be held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Friday April 4.