The awards, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, are voted for by half a million viewers in magazine polls.

This year's sensation, newcomer Alan Davies, has helped to squeeze established stars off the shortlist for the Most Popular Actor award.

The Jonathan Creek star, also known as a stand-up comic, lines up against John Thaw, Ross Kemp, Robson Green and Stephen Tompkinson.

Dame Judi Dench: Nominated for National Television Award

Soaps are also stealing the spotlight, with Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Brookside battling out in the Serial Drama category. Australian dramas Neighbours and Home And Away do not make the shortlist.

Also from the awards this year is perennial favourite David Jason, who was in the running in each of the three previous competitions and picked up three prizes last year.

In the Most Popular Actress category, Pam Ferris and Sarah Lancashire of Where The Heart Is, face competition from Amanda Burton, Pauline Quirke, and Dervla Kirwan who, like her partner Steven Tompkinson, quit the series Ballykissangel this year.

Women outnumber men among the nominees for the Most Popular Comedy Performer for the first time.

Oscar nominee Dame Judi Dench, Caroline Quentin and Dawn French line up against Martin Clunes and Nicholas Lyndhurst.

The event is hosted by Trevor McDonald and televised on ITV on Wednesday. Last year's ceremony drew 14.5m viewers

The nominees are:

Most Popular Actor:
Alan Davies, John Thaw, Robson Green, Ross Kemp, Stephen Tompkinson

Most Popular Actress:
Amanda Burton, Dervla Kirwan, Pam Ferris, Pauline Quirke, Sarah Lancashire

Most Popular Comedy Performer:
Caroline Quentin, Dawn French, Judi Dench, Martin Clunes, Nicholas Lyndhurst

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter:
Bruce Forsyth, Jim Davidson, Lily Savage, Michael Barrymore

Most Popular Comedy Programme:
Friends, Last Of The Summer Wine, Men Behaving Badly, The Vicar Of Dibley

Most Popular Drama Series:
Ballykissangel, Kavanagh QC, Jonathan Creek, Where The Heart Is

Most Popular Entertainment Programme:
It'll Be Alright On The Night, Jim Davidson's Generation Game, Shooting Stars, Stars In Their Eyes

Trevor McDonald: Hosting the Royal Albert Hall show

Most Popular Quiz Programme:
A Question Of Sport, Have I Got News For You, Michael Barrymore's Strike It Rich, They Think It's All Over

Most Popular Factual Entertainment Programme:
Animal Hospital, Celebrity Ready, Steady, Cook, Strange But True?, Changing Rooms

Most Popular Serial Drama:
Brookside, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale

Most Popular Talk Show:
Des O'Connor Tonight, Parkinson, TFI Friday, The Mrs Merton Show

Most Popular Daytime Programme:
Big Breakfast, Countdown, GMTV, This Morning

Most Popular Newcomer:
Adam Rickitt, Anna Brecon, Claire Goose, Jane Danson, Jason Durr

Most Popular Documentary Series:
Children's Hospital, Full Circle With Michael Palin, The Human Body