Tamzin Outhwaite: Two nominations in two years

The award will be presented by Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea, who hit the headlines during the Sydney Olympics when he swam the 100 metres in the slowest ever Olympic time.

His visit to London was almost called off when the country's president ordered Moussambani's plane grounded because he wanted him to attend a special reception for the country's Olympic athletes instead.

But the plane was allowed to lift off after some last-minute diplomatic discussions.

The winners of the public vote will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Other nominations include EastEnders' Tamzin Outhwaite, last year's best newcomer, for Best Actress.

She will fight it out with Emmerdale's Samantha Giles, Pam Ferris for Where the Heart Is, Sarah Lancashire for Seeing Red and Debra Stephenson for Bad Girls.

EastEnders' favourite Martin Kemp goes up against perennials John Thaw, David Jason, Martin Shaw and Robson Green for Best Actor.

Sir Cliff Richard, soon to celebrate his 60th birthday, has his first nomination in the awards - most popular entertainment programme for An Audience with ... Cliff Richard.

'Discerning judges'

Sir Trevor McDonald is to host the awards.

"They have become the accepted benchmark for excellence and achievement on British television today," he said.

"They are the only awards whose winners are democratically chosen by the most discerning of all judges - the viewers."

Last year actor John Thaw won two of the top titles at the National Television Awards.

The Inspector Morse star won the most popular Actor award, for the second year in a row.