Sherlock and Doctor Who head to head at National Television Awards

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Matt Smith as the Doctor

Sherlock and Doctor Who are up against each other for two prizes at the National Television Awards this month.

The shows - both run by writer and producer Steven Moffat - are up for best drama, along with Downton Abbey and Merlin.

Doctor Who star Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock, are in the running for the best actor prize.

Winners will be announced at London's O2 Arena on 23 January.

Moffat said: "Well this is very flattering, but also terrifying. I hope everyone votes with tremendous care and the result is an exact draw between both shows."

Karen Gillan, who bowed out last year as the Doctor's companion Amy Pond, is nominated for the best female drama performance.

She is up against comedy star Miranda Hart for her role in Call The Midwife, Suranne Jones for Scott and Bailey and Sheridan Smith for Mrs Biggs, in which she played the wife of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.

In the best male drama performance category, Smith and Cumberbatch are up against Colin Morgan, the star of Merlin, and Daniel Mays for his performance as Ronnie Biggs in Mrs Biggs.

Ant and Dec, who have won the best entertainment presenter prize for the past 11 years, are shortlisted for the title yet again. They will do battle with Alan Carr, Keith Lemon and Dermot O'Leary.

Their show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is nominated for the entertainment programme award, against Alan Carr: Chatty Man, The Graham Norton Show and The Only Way Is Essex.

Cakes, cars and pooches

The Great British Bake-Off competes with The Apprentice, Top Gear and Paul O'Grady's For The Love Of Dogs for the best factual entertainment prize.

The talent show shortlist sees the first series of the BBC One singing contest The Voice up against established shows Britain's Got Talent, Dancing On Ice, Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor.

Frozen Planet - which came in for criticism in 2011 when it emerged that footage of newborn polar bear cubs was filmed in a Dutch animal park - is up for best documentary series.

Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks are up for best serial drama.

Corrie has two hopefuls in the serial drama acting category: Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs, is involved in a domestic violence plotline, while Michelle Keegan's character Tina McIntyre is carrying a surrogate baby.

They are up against Hollyoaks' Emmett J Scanlan and EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt, who has played Ian Beale in the BBC show since it began in 1985.

There will also be a special award to celebrate the success of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Viewers can vote on the NTA website, which has the full list of nominees, from Tuesday.