She plays his sidekick on Doctor Who, but at this month’s National Television Awards Catherine Tate will be David Tennant’s competition.

Both stars have been shortlisted for Outstanding Drama Performance for their roles as the Timelord and his assistant Donna Noble.

Tate, also a celebrated comic, and Tennant, currently earning praise for his role in a theatre production of Shakespeare comedy Love’s Labour Lost, could be saved from an awkward post-awards moment by Ashes to Ashes star Philip Glenister or The Bill’s Alex Walkinshaw, who have also been nominated.

The awards, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald, will also pit camp comic Alan Carr against his The Sunday Night Project co-host Justin Lee Collins for the Best Entertainment Presenter award. But, if history is anything to go by, the gong will go to Ant and Dec, who have won eight years in a row.

The duo are also in the running for Most Popular Entertainment Programme for Saturday Night Takeaway, alongside Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and The Paul O'Grady Show.

High-rating family favourites Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and Dancing on Ice will compete for the title of Most Popular Talent Show.

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, The Apprentice and This Morning have a chance to take the gong for Most Popular Factual Programme from Top Gear, which has won two-years running.

Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks are all nominated for Most Popular Serial Drama at the awards, which are voted for by the public.

Paying tribute to the long list of TV favourites up for awards, Sir Trevor said: "The variety of nominees this year shows the remarkable range and diversity of the programmes and performers we all love to watch.

The awards, now in their 14th year, take place at Royal Albert Hall in London and will be broadcast live on ITV1 on October 29.

Voting is open at www.nationaltvawards.com

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