Lisa Shaw was pivotal to the hit Who Shot Phil? storyline

In the six year history of the awards Barrymore - who recently received treatment for drink problems - has won seven times, including a special achievement prize.

The majority of the awards are voted for by the general public.

Exports

Hit programmes Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and The Weakest Link will go head to head in the most popular quiz show category, along with A Question of Sport and They Think It's All Over.

Millionaire, fronted by Chris Tarrant, and Anne Robinson's Weakest Link have both proved successful exports, with large international audiences.

Tarrant's show Millionaire - which aims to give away one of the biggest prizes in the world - has already won the award two years in a row.

Fresh from its triumph at the Inside Soap Awards, EastEnders is nominated in a host of categories for the event to be held at London's Royal Albert Hall on 23 October.

Davina McCall presented Big Brother 2

Martin Kemp and Steve McFadden, the square's Steve Owen and Phil Mitchell, are competing against Robson Green, John Thaw and David Jason in the most popular actor category.

And Steve McFadden's off-screen girlfriend and on-screen ex-love - Lucy Benjamin, who plays Lisa Shaw - has been nominated for top actress.

Benjamin will compete with fellow EastEnders June Brown and Amanda Burton as well as Coronation Street's Georgia Taylor and Debra Stephenson of Bad Girls for the prize.

Barrymore could be in line for a second award as his show My Kind of Music competes in the most popular entertainment category.

It goes up against Stars in their Eyes, the long-running Generation Game and Popstars, the show which created Popstars.

Despite a poor review for her sit-com Sam's Game, Davina McCall has won a nomination for most popular comedy star, rubbing shoulders with seasoned actors such as Richard Wilson and the Royle Family's Ricky Tomlinson.

McCall is in line for another award for the popular Channel 4 reality TV show Big Brother.

It goes up against Animal Hospital, Ground Force and Crimewatch UK for most popular factual programme.

EastEnder Jessie Wallace, who plays the troubled Kat Slater, has been nominated for most popular newcomer along with screen sister Little Mo, played by Kacey Ainsworth.