Shamed Deayton also up for gong

The shortlists for this year's Bafta television awards have been announced, with The Kumars at Number 42 leading the field.

The tongue-in-cheek chat show has racked up three nominations: for best entertainment programme and for best entertainment performance from stars Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal.

Disgraced Have I Got News For You presenter Angus Deayton, sacked in October after revelations about his private life , and captain Paul Merton are also up for awards in the same category.

The shortlist for best comedy performance is: Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan, Peter Kay and Johns Bird and Fortune

Phoenix Nights, The Office, My Family and The Book Group will vie for best sitcom.

And the nominees best comedy programme or series is: Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, Bremner, Bird and Fortune, Look Around You and Smack The Pony.

Despite Coogan's best performance nod, I'm Alan Partridge failed to secure a nomination.

Also in The Kumars' best entertainment category are Test The Nation,Friday Night With Jonathan Ross and ITV1's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Anne Robinson will host the awards on 13 April.

There was further good news for The Kumars last night as their Comic Relief song, Spirit In The Sky, which also features Gareth Gates, took the No 1 chart position from Christina Aguilera.

Full list of nominations on Bafta's home page

Published: 17 Mar 2003