Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch up for US award

Benedict Cumberbatch and Lara Pulver co-starred in Sherlock episode A Scandal in Belgravia

Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Lara Pulver are among the nominees for the 2012 Critics' Choice TV Awards.

The pair are up for best actor and actress in a movie or miniseries for their work in the BBC's update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories.

Other Brits in contention for honours at the US event include Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery, Homeland star Damian Lewis and presenter Cat Deeley.

The winners will be announced on 18 June in Beverly Hills, California.

The gala ceremony follows last year's inaugural event, which saw Mad Men take home three awards.

Organised by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BJTA), the event is intended to act as a forerunner to the more established Emmy awards.

NBC comedy Community has the most nominations, having received six citations in four categories.

Mad Men comes a close second with five nominations, which include nods for stars Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Jon Slattery and Christina Hendricks.

Deeley, nominated last year for best reality show host for ABC's Dancing with the Stars, is up for the same prize this year for her work on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.

Other awards will be presented to best talk show, best animated series and best movie or miniseries - the third accolade for which Sherlock is in contention.

Luther, The Hour and Sir David Hare's political drama Page Eight are also recognised in a category dominated by BBC productions.