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BAFTA TV nominations mark coming of age for gay stars
The Buzzcocks Team
Amstell, Carr, Sher and Fry lead the pack
"Amstell's fearlessness when confronting homophobia in some of the UK and US's biggest stars has now been recognised"
As one of the new wave of youth presenters who was openly gay, Simon Amstell has carved out quite a niche for himself, first on Channel 4's Sunday "hangover" slot, T4 and more recently on the BBC's Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
His unique brand of downbeat sarcasm - and his fearlessness when confronting homophobia in some of the UK and US's biggest stars - has now been recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in a nomination in the category Entertainment Performance.
But he won't have it all his own way. Up against him in that category are Stephen Fry for his intellectual panel show Q.I. and Alan Carr, the toothsome comedian who presents The Friday Night Project with sidekick Justin Lee Collins. It's set to be the most fiercely contested category at the awards, which take place on 20th April at the London Palladium.
In the acting category, Anthony Sher is a hot favourite to win for his portrayal of a gay man in a Nazi concentration camp in Primo, based on the work of writer Primo Levi. The best actress category is dominated by gay Sunday night favourite Cranford with both Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins up for an award.
For a full list of nominees, click here.
