Peter Capaldi has become the first Doctor Who since the BBC rebooted the hit sci-fi hit show in 2005 not to get a nomination at the U.K.’s National Television Awards.
Despite receiving mostly rave reviews for his first season as the iconic Time Lord, Capaldi didn’t make the grade among the judges for the drama performance category, which will be fought out by Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) and Sheridan Smith (Cilla).
Read more Jenna Coleman Signs Up for Another Season of ‘Doctor Who’
Doctor Who did get a nomination in the drama category alongside Downton Abbey and Sherlock and one-off newcomer Cilla, which charted the 1960s rise of singer-turned-TV host Cilla Black. Last year, Doctor Who triumphed while Matt Smith won the best performance award.
Other nominations include Simon Cowell, who goes against his fellow X Factor U.K. judge and sparring partner Cheryl Fernandez-Versini in the TV judge category, together with Mary Berry from The Great British Bake Off and Britain’s Got Talent’s David Walliams.
Read more ‘Downton Abbey’ Creator Julian Fellowes Talks Stretching Out Stories in Season 5
Elsewhere, Game of Thrones has some unusual opposition in the new multichannel category, where it was nominated alongside The Walking Dead, MTV reality program Geordie Shore and comedy quiz panel show Celebrity Juice.
The National Television Awards will be handed out on Jan. 21 at London’s O2 Arena.
