This year’s National Television Awards promise to be a closely fought contest. Steve Pratt looks at the nominations.

WHO would win a fight between Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes?

Would his sonic screwdriver give the time lord the edge or would the Baker Street sleuth’s amazing intellect enable him to overwhelm the doctor?

It’s a contest in which the two protagonists have no say. They won’t decide who’s best. Viewers will.

Because the National Television Awards are voted for by the public. They choose who goes home with the gongs.

Matt Smith had a lot to live up to when he took over as Doctor Who from the very popular David Tennant, but he seems to have calmed the fears of fans who’ve taken him, by and large, to their hearts. But will he get more votes than Sherlock, as impersonated by Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC updating of Conan Doyle’s master detective?

And before you make up your mind consider the other two candidates in the drama performance category – David Jason, who’s won more awards than most have had hot dinners, for A Touch Of Frost and Philip Glenister as oldstyle copper Gene Hunt in Ashes To Ashes. The choice, as they say, is yours.

Doctor Who and Sherlock (my favourite) also face off for the best drama title.

Shameless and Waterloo Road fill out the category.

The serial drama – they mean soap – performance award could well be a farewell gift for Lacey Turner, recently departed as EastEnders’ Stacey.

Her track record at winning prizes is very good.

K a t h e r i n e Kelly, Coronation Street’s Becky, could give her a run for her money, but the dark horse is Danny Miller, whose coming out storyline in Emmerdale has already been acknowledged elsewhere as a fine piece of acting. The fourth name on the shortlist (Steve McFadden, Phil Mitchell in EastEnders) hasn’t a hope in hell of winning.

The big three – Corrie, EastEnders and Emmerdale – slog it out for best serial drama.

Hollyoaks is there to make up the numbers.

Soap actors dominate the newcomer category with Marc Silcock (Emmerdale), Ricky Norwood (EastEnders) and Paula Lane (Coronation Street) nominated with Olga Fedori from Holby City.

The ceremony at the O2 Arena in London will be presented by X Factor host Dermot O’Leary, himself nominated for best entertainment presenter.

Unfortunately, he’s competing against Geordie superstars Ant and Dec, going for their recordbreaking tenth consecutive win in the category.

Big Brother’s Davina McCall and Paul O’Grady complete the list.

Perhaps McCall will see Big Brother, which ended on C4 this summer, triumph in the entertainment programme category. It has to beat I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, Mock The Week and QI.

Benidorm is my winner among the comedies, although others may prefer Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow or Outnumbered.

The talent show category is a tough one, although Simon Cowell has two chances of winning – Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor. I can’t see Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing On Ice taking the title from either of those.

Topical magazine programme offers three very different shows – BBC Breakfast, Loose Women and This Morning. While Top Gear must be favourite to take the factual programme title against Celebrity Masterchef, Junior Apprentice and Who Do You Think You Are?

The 12 categories are completed by the digital choice award. Glee, for me, is the runaway winner although comedy The Inbetweeners has its fans.

Peter Andre: The Next Chapter completes the lineup (much, I should think, to the chagrin of ex-wife and rival reality show participant Jordan, Katie Price or whatever she’s calling herself this week).

You can vote by phone on 0901-888-2011 (remember to check the cost beforehand) or online at nationaltvawards.com. Voting closes at noon on Wednesday.

* The National Television Awards: Wednesday, ITV1, 7.30pm