This past Monday, stars of top shows in the UK gathered together in London at the TVChoice Awards 2012 to see who would take home the coveted 3-star trophy. The annual event is sponsored by TVChoice, the UK’s version of TV Guide, and winners are determined by viewers’ votes.
Since many of the nominees are UK-only programs, let’s look at just those that are available for viewing in the U.S.
Fan favorite Doctor Who led the pack with three nominations and took home the award for Best Family Drama for the third year in a row. Series costar Karen Gillan, who won the Best Actress award in 2011 for her portrayal of Amy Pond, was nominated again this year but lost out to Miranda Hart, who plays Chummy in Call the Midwife.
(No, that’s not Gillan crying at the awards ceremony, but her character in a Season 7 episode of Doctor Who. Be sure to catch her in A Town Called Mercy, the next new Doctor Who episode, at 9PM Eastern this Saturday, September 15, on BBC America.)
Speaking of Call the Midwife, the series won for Best New Drama and premieres in the U.S. on PBS on Sunday, September 30 at 8PM Eastern. See this post for details.
In the Best Actor category, Doctor Who‘s Matt Smith, along with Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch, Doc Martin‘s Martin Clunes, and Merlin‘s Colin Morgan were nominated, and Cumberbatch came out on top. He was unable to attend the ceremony due to another commitment, but I’m sure he’s chuffed about the win. Ditto that Sherlock won for Best Drama Series, which was up against Downton Abbey, Shameless, and Skins.
The Best Factual Entertainment program category was introduced at the TVChoice Awards 2011, and the winner that year and this year was Top Gear. And while two of my favorite comedy series — Outnumbered from the UK and The Big Bang Theory from the U.S. — were nominated, both were bested by Mrs. Brown’s Boys.
Now that we know UK viewers’ favorites, will Emmy results be similar? Here’s a rundown of the British TV programs, actors, and actresses, plus British stars in U.S.-produced shows, nominated for 2012 Emmys:
Downton Abbey — Outstanding Drama Series
- Hugh Bonneville — Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
- Jim Carter — Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
- Brendan Coyle — Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
- Michelle Dockery — Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
- Joanne Froggatt — Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
- Maggie Smith — Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
- John Lunn — Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) for Episode 6 (See this post about John Lunn’s music.)
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia — Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
- Benedict Cumberbatch — Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
- Martin Freeman — Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Luther — Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
- Idris Elba — Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Other Nominees
- Judy Davis — Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie, Page Eight
- Damian Lewis — Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series, Homeland
- Emma Thompson — Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie, The Song of Lunch
Which shows, actors, and actresses are you rooting for? I’d love all of them to win, but of course, they can’t, so I’ll leave it at wishing each of them the best of luck and wait for the Emmys to see which among them goes home with a shiny new trophy.
The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast airs live on Sunday, September 23 on ABC, beginning at 7PM Eastern.
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