'Bridgerton' leads nominations for TV Choice Awards

Bridgerton is leading the nominations for this year's TV Choice Awards, with nods including best drama.

The hit Netflix period drama streamed its highly anticipated second series earlier this year and despite the controversial news that fan favourite Regé-Jean Page would not be back as The Duke, it did not dampen enthusiasm for the show.

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Now, Bridgerton has reeceived three nominations at the TV Choice Awards - for best drama, best actor for Jonathan Bailey who stars as Anthony Bridgerton, and best actress for Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma.

The show will go up against All Creatures Great And Small, Death In Paradise and Outlander for best drama, while Bailey faces competition in his category from Call The Midwife's Daniel Laurie, Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders and Ben Whishaw in This Is Going To Hurt.

Ashley is nominated alongside Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, Jenny Agutter in Call The Midwife and Nicola Walker in The Split.

Other hotly contested categories include best new drama with nominations for Korean horror-drama Squid Game, LGBTQ+ hit Heartstopper, The Darling Buds Of May reboot The Larkins, and This Is Going To Hurt based on the best-selling junior doctor memoir by Adam Kay.

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Best comedy performance will be fought out between Ricky Gervais in After Life, Siobhan McSweeney in Derry Girls, Lee Mack in Not Going Out and Brenda Blethyn in Kate & Koji.

Meanwhile, Neighbours, which just aired its last episode after 37 years on screen, will battle Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale for the best soap award.

The BBC has swept the best family drama category with Doctor Who, Casualty, Call The Midwife and Around The World In 80 Days all getting nominations.

And The Chase, Pointless and Pointless Celebrities, Steph’s Packed Lunch and This Morning have all been nominated in the best daytime show category.

Comedian Jo Brand will host this year’s awards ceremony which will take place at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 14 November.

Brand said: “I am, as always, really looking forward to the great evening of The TV Choice Awards 2022.

“It’s always a lively event, and yes, that is a euphemism!”

The awards show, which is in its 26th year, honours TV shows and stars and is voted for by an audience of TV fans.

Jon Peake, editor of TV Choice magazine, said: “It’s a real thrill to see such a diverse range of talent among the nominations this year, as well as some established favourites.

“But as to who’ll triumph on the night – let’s wait and see!”

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