Dr Who versus Sherlock Holmes for Bafta

Doctor Who will go head to head with Sherlock Holmes at this year's television Baftas.

Matt Smith, 28, gets his first nomination in the awards, for leading actor, after taking over from David Tennant as the time traveller.

Benedict Cumberbatch, 34, will be hoping to make it third time lucky with his interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective. He was previously nominated for his roles in the dramas Small Island and Hawking, about the life of scientist Stephen Hawking.

Cumberbatch's co-star Martin Freeman, who played Watson, is nominated for supporting actor at the Philips British Academy Television Awards on May 22.

Another first-time nominee, Daniel Rigby, is up for leading actor for playing the late comic Eric Morecambe in Eric And Ernie.

But there is stiff competition from twice Bafta winner Jim Broadbent, 61, who is nominated for his role as ageing writer Logan Mountstuart in Any Human Heart. His co-star Gillian Anderson is up for supporting actress in the adaptation of William Boyd's novel.

Other strong contenders at the TV Baftas will be last year's drama series victor Misfits with four nominations. Its rivals are Being Human, Sherlock, and ITV's period drama Downton Abbey, which also earned a nomination for Brendan Coyle as the stoic servant Bates.

After 45 years in showbusiness, Lynda Baron has her first chance of a Bafta for playing Violet Carson in BBC4's drama, The Road To Coronation Street, about the creation of ITV's long-running soap. EastEnder Jessie Wallace also receives her first nomination for playing Street siren Pat Phoenix in the same drama.

Other actors, comedians and presenters on the Bafta shortlists announced today include Juliet Stevenson, Tom Hollander, Dawn French, Miranda Hart, Jo Brand, Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and Mary Portas.

Graham Norton, who will host BBC1's coverage of the ceremony, is nominated for the first time in nearly a decade for The Graham Norton Show, alongside seven-times nominee Stephen Fry.

Danish crime thriller The Killing faces Mad Men, Broadwalk Empire and Glee in the international category.

BBC1 gets most nominations with 24, against 16 for Channel 4, 14 for BBC2 and eight for ITV1.

Sky has its highest tally yet with five across all its channels.