The King's Speech in line for 8 'Bifas'

EARLY Oscar favourite The King's Speech got another boost yesterday when it received eight nominations in the British Independent Film Awards (Bifas).

The film, which tells how King George VI battled to overcome a stammer, had been heavily tipped for Academy Award success.

Colin Firth, who plays the monarch, picked up a Best Actor nomination while co-stars Geoffrey Rush and Guy Pearce were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Helena Bonham-Carter Best Supporting Actress.

Among the other nominations it picked up were Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.