Sheridan Smith nominated for TV Bafta

Sheridan is up against Keeley Hawes, Sarah Lancashire and Georgina Campbell for the leading actress award. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire

She is up against Line Of Duty star Keeley Hawes, Sarah Lancashire for Happy Valley, and Georgina Campbell from Murdered By My Boyfriend for the leading actress award.

Smith’s portrayal of the singer, who was given a special award for her 50 years in television at last year’s bash, was so popular it propelled the Scouse singer’s 1964 number one, Anyone Who Had A Heart, back into the charts.

Other big names in the running include Benedict Cumberbatch, who is nominated for leading actor for his performance in Sherlock.

The star, who lost out on a best actor Oscar earlier this year, is nominated alongside Toby Jones for Marvellous, James Nesbitt for The Missing, and Jason Watkins for The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies.

It is Cumberbatch’s third nomination for his performance in the hit show.

BBC dramas dominate with Happy Valley, Marvellous, The Missing and Line Of Duty all leading the way with three nods.

But BBC bosses could be left red-faced if Campbell wins her category or her show, BBC3’s Murdered By My Boyfriend, is named best single drama just as the corporation moves to axe the digital channel and replace it with an online-only service.

Lancashire’s co-star in Happy Valley, James Norton, is nominated for the supporting actor award and the show is in the running for best drama.

Toby Jones’s co-star in Marvellous, Gemma Jones, was nominated for best supporting actress - her first nod since 1977.

Ken Stott’s role in The Missing sees him nominated for best supporting actor, alongside Adeel Akhtar from Channel 4’s Utopia and Stephen Rea for The Honourable Woman.

Line Of Duty’s Vicky McClure is nominated for best supporting actress alongside Amanda Redman for ITV’s Tommy Cooper biopic and Charlotte Spencer for E4’s Glue.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman is nominated for best entertainment performance alongside chatshow host Graham Norton, Ant and Dec and Celebrity Juice’s Leigh Francis.

The nominations were announced at Bafta’s central London headquarters by actors Freddie Fox and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.

• This year’s ceremony is at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on Sunday May 10.