Mr Bates vs The Post Office has been shortlisted for a National Television Award in the UK after the ITV drama drew renewed attention to the subpostmasters who were wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal.
More than 700 subpostmasters in the UK were prosecuted by the Post Office and given criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015, as Fujitsu's faulty Horizon IT system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.
The TV drama, which shone a light on the issue, has been nominated in the New Drama category, but it will face tough competition from the Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, the romantic drama One Day, and the thrillers Fool Me Once, and Red Eye.
Actor Toby Jones has received a nod in the Drama Performance category for his role as former subpostmaster Alan Bates, one of more than 550 claimants who have brought legal action against the Post Office.
Actress Jessica Gunning has also been nominated for the gong for her role as Martha Scott in the dark comedy-thriller Baby Reindeer, in which her character stalks comedian Donny Dunn after he offers her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.
The drama, inspired by the real-life experiences of the show's creator, comedian Richard Gadd, made headlines after Fiona Harvey, who came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, took legal action against Netflix, alleging the story is inaccurate.
Gadd previously asked viewers not to speculate over the people who inspired the series.
Fool Me Once star Michelle Keegan is among those shortlisted for the Drama Performance prize for her role as Maya Stern; Brenda Blethyn is shortlisted for her starring role in Vera, and Vicky McClure's role as Lana Washington in the crime thriller Trigger Point completes the nominees.
The Returning Drama award will also be hotly contested, as Vera and Trigger Point are nominated against the Netflix hit Bridgerton, the royal drama The Crown, and the medical drama Call the Midwife.
Mrs Brown's Boys is nominated in the Comedy category alongside Brassic, The Gentlemen, Ghosts, and Not Going Out.
Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway has been nominated for Authored Documentary again; this time for Kate Garraway: Derek's Story, which followed the final year of her husband Derek Draper's life. He died aged 56 in January after a lengthy battle with the long-term effects of Covid.
Garraway's latest documentary followed on from two other programmes about Draper's battle with Covid and her struggles navigating the care system, which both picked up NTA gongs in the category in 2021 and 2022.
Former England captain David Beckham and pop star Robbie Williams are also shortlisted for their Netflix docuseries; actress Rose Ayling-Ellis is shortlisted for her documentary that explores attitudes to the deaf community, and comedian Rhod Gilbert for the documentary in which he explores his cancer treatment.
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will seek to extend their winning streak in the TV Presenter category to a historic 23rd year.
The presenting duo will go head-to-head with This Morning's Alison Hammond, Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors star Claudia Winkleman, The Chase and Gladiators host Bradley Walsh, and TV star Stacey Solomon.
Ant & Dec's Limitless Win is also up for the Quiz Game Show award, while I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway are nominated for the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award. The Graham Norton Show is also nominated in this category.
This Morning will be hoping to regain the Daytime Show crown after losing it last year amid the furore of the Phillip Schofield affair.
The ITV morning programme, which is now fronted by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley after Schofield and Holly Willoughby both left in 2023, will compete against reigning winners The Repair Shop. The Chase, Loose Women, and Deal or No Deal complete the shortlist.
In the Serial Drama category, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, and Casualty will battle it out, while in the Reality Competition category, Celebrity Big Brother, Love Island, Race Across the World, The Apprentice, and The Traitors are nominated.
The winners, chosen by public vote, will be announced at a ceremony on 11 September at London's O2 arena.
Source: Press Association
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