Programmes like this do nothing to help end the abuse of children

NSPCC

Other shows up for awards include Perfect Strangers, Stephen Poliakoff's BBC Two drama, which has three nominations, including acting nods for Michael Gambon and Lindsay Duncan.

Pop Idol, The Office, Parkinson and The Blue Planet are among 13 shows with two nominations.

Lindsay Duncan is nominated for best actress for Perfect Strangers

The Brass Eye special sparked more than 1,500 complaints from members of the public when it was broadcast on Channel 4 in July 2001.

It faces competition from Bremner, Bird and Fortune, The Kumars at No 42 and The Sketch Show for the award for best comedy programme or series.

It also made the shortlist for best TV innovation alongside Banzai, Blue Planet and Double Take.

'Offensive'

Brass Eye was denounced by MPs and ministers when it was screened, but the Broadcasting Standards Commission recently refused to uphold complaints by two Labour MPs.

The Pop Idol final was watched by 13 million people

The NSPCC said its own National Child Protection Helpline had taken calls from child abuse victims distressed by the programme.

The organization called the show "crude, crass and offensive" and said: "The programme has been distressing both to those who have been abused and to people working with them.

"Programmes like this do nothing to help end the abuse of children."

Drama nods

In other categories, Perfect Strangers is nominated for best drama serial, with Gambon up for best actor and Duncan up for best actress.

Veterans Alan Bates, Timothy Spall and David Suchet are also nominated for best actor.

Julie Walters, Sheila Hancock and Lesley Sharp are the others on the best actress shortlist.

Julie Walters' role in My Beautiful Son earned her a best actress nomination

Pop Idol, the talent search that became a TV phenomenon, leads the field in the award for best entertainment programme or series.

It will face competition from Have I Got News For You, Parkinson and Room 101.

Pop Idol hosts Ant and Dec face Graham Norton, Paul Merton and comedy duo John Bird and John Fortune for the title of best entertainment performance.

In the shortlist for best soap opera, two of the most popular shows in the country, EastEnders and Coronation Street, are in the running alongside Hollyoaks and Doctors.

The best drama series prize will be picked from ITV productions At Home With The Braithwaites and Cold Feet and BBC shows Clocking Off and Tales From The Pleasure Beach.

In the best drama serial category - which honours shows with fewer episodes - Bob and Rose, The Russian Bride and The Way We Live Now will face Perfect Strangers.

News honours

As well as drama and comedy, The Bafta TV Awards also cover news, documentary and sport programmes.

Jeremy Paxman is in the running for best presenter

Three of the four nominees in the categories for best news coverage come from 11 September - but the BBC is the only major broadcaster not to get a nomination for its reporting on that day.

ITN's coverage for ITV and Channel 4 both get nods, as does Sky News' coverage of 11 September and the following day.

But the BBC is nominated for its reporting of the fall of Kabul over 12 and 13 November.

The heavyweight battle for best presenter sees Jeremy Paxman, Michael Parkinson, Simon Schama and Louis Theroux chasing the prize.

"It has been another truly memorable year of achievement and this is reflected in the calibre of nominations unveiled today," according to Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry.

The ceremony will be presented by Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host Chris Tarrant on Sunday, 21 April.