Coronation Street's Sarah Lancashire

Hollyoaks star Joanna Taylor and Brookside actress Claire Sweeney both made glamorous arrivals early on Sunday night.

Former Coronation Street barmaid Sarah Lancashire arrived in a strapless gown and Denise Van Outen turned up in an Yves Saint Laurent dress.

Last year's winner of the best entertainer award, Graham Norton arrived admitting nerves:

"Last year I was a bit more calm, I don't know why.

"This is the biggest night of the year," he said.

Eastender's actor Martin Kemp

Other early arrivals at the show included Helen Mirren, Richard Wislon, David Suchet, Felicity Kendal, Sue Johnstone and comedians Paul Merton and Ruby Wax.

TV quiz presenters Anne Robinson and Chris Tarrant are battling it out for the best entertainment programme, with both The Weakest Link and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? nominated - alongside So Graham Norton and Have I Got News For You.

Judi Dench is nominated for best actress for her role in the Last of the Blonde Bombshells, having already picked up a Golden Globe for her performance in the BBC drama.

She competes against Geraldine James for The Sins, Amanda Redman for At Home with the Braithwaites, Fay Ripley for Cold Feet and Alison Steadman for Fat Friends.

Comedy

Best actor nominations are split between Michael Gambon for Longitude, Stephen Mackintosh in Care, Pete Postlethwaite in The Sins and Ken Stott for The Vice.

Ali G creator Sacha Baron Cohen is the only non-BBC nomination for comedy performance, up against Kathy Burke, Caroline Aherne and Dawn French.

The BBC's EastEnders has won the best soap award two years running, and this time is up against Coronation Street (ITV), Hollyoaks (Channel 4) and Emmerdale (ITV).

The Richard Dimbleby Award for best presenter recognises a broad spectrum of talent from Jeremy Paxman to Louis Theroux for his Weird Weekends.

One prize, the Lew Grade Audience Award, is voted for by the readers of the event's sponsor, Radio Times.

The shows shortlisted for the Lew Grade award are A Touch of Frost (ITV), Hero of the Hour (ITV), Inspector Morse (ITV), Seeing Red (ITV) and Vicar of Dibley (BBC).

The BBC has picked up 44 of the 77 award nominations and secured all four nominations for the best single drama.

Sir Tom Courtenay: presenting Bafta's highest award

TV quizmaster Angus Deayton is presenting the awards alongside stars including Helen Mirren, David Jason, Richard Blackwood, Tamzin Outhwaite, Ruby Wax and Castaway's Ben Fogle.

The recently knighted Sir Steve Redgrave is presenting the award for Best Sports Programme and actor Sir Tom Courtenay will have the honour of presenting the highest accolade of the night, the Academy Fellowship, to TV actor John Thaw.

The British Academy Television Awards, BBC1 Sunday 2000 BST.