Len Goodman and Mary Berry will compete for one of the top prizes at the 2017 National Television Awards (NTAs) following the recent departure of both TV judges from their respective shows, Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off.
Len left the BBC dancing programme in December after 12 years as head judge, and Mary opted out of the Bake Off’s move from the BBC to Channel 4, with her final episodes being the cookery show’s Christmas specials.
This could spell the last chance either of them get to win the coveted TV Judge accolade at the awards ceremony, which sees its winners chosen by the voting public.
Len, 72, and Mary, 81, feature on the TV Judge shortlist against The X Factor’s Nicole Scherzinger and Britain’s Got Talent’s David Walliams, as well as Simon Cowell, the boss of both reality TV shows.
The Bake Off’s presenting duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins – who have also walked away from the series, leaving judge Paul Hollywood the only remaining member of the team – have received a nod in the TV Presenter category.
But they will have to tackle reigning champions Ant and Dec in the hotly-contested group: the I’m A Celebrity hosts have won the title 15 years in a row.
Match Of The Day’s Gary Lineker is included on that shortlist after he presented an episode in his underpants.
Rounding off the TV Presenter shortlist is US-based The Late Late Show host James Corden and Rylan Clark-Neal, best known for fronting the companion shows for Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and The X Factor.
The NTAs this year introduce a brand new Period Drama category to highlight the huge appeal of historical sagas, with ITV’s Victoria battling its BBC rival Poldark.
Call The Midwife and Peaky Blinders have also received Period Drama nods, along with Netflix’s 1980s-based sci-fi horror Stranger Things, which marks the first NTAs nomination for a drama series on a streaming service.
Just three programmes will compete in the Talent Show category, with Simon’s Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor going up against Strictly Come Dancing.
The Live Magazine Show category shortlisted nominees are morning TV mainstays BBC Breakfast and This Morning, as well as The One Show, Loose Women and Sunday Brunch.
Other categories at the forthcoming awards ceremony include Drama, Challenge Show, Serial Drama, Factual Entertainment and Newcomer.
ITV will broadcast the star-studded event, fronted by returning host Dermot O’Leary, live from London’s O2 Arena on January 25.
TV fans can vote for their winners at the official NTAs website until noon on January 25.
