Doctor Who actors compete for top prize at TV awards

David Tennant finished playing the role of Doctor Who last New Year's Day

Two Doctor Who actors will go head to head at this year's TV Choice Awards.

Matt Smith is nominated in the best actor category for his role as the timelord and David Tennant, who finished playing the role last year, is nominated for BBC drama Single Father.

They are both up against Merlin star Colin Morgan and Benedict Cumberbatch from Sherlock.

There's also a nomination for one of the doctor's most popular sidekicks, Elisabeth Sladen, who died this year.

The actress, who joined the programme in 1973, played Sarah Jane Smith and was given her own spin-off series in 2007, the Sarah Jane Adventures.

She is nominated for best actress and is up against the current doctor's companion Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond.

Also nominated are Waterloo Road's Amanda Burton and Vicky McClure, who won a TV Bafta for her role as Lol in This Is England '86 earlier this year.

The controversial baby swap story in EastEnders is nominated for the best soap storyline against Coronation Street's 50th anniversary tram crash.

The shows nominated for best new drama are ITV1's Downton Abbey, Channel 5's zombie drama The Walking Dead, and BBC One's Sherlock and Single Father.

Channel 4 gets three out of four nominations for best drama series with Glee, Misfits and Shameless with the last one going to BBC Three's Being Human.

BBC One picks ups all four nods for best family drama with Casualty, Doctor Who, Merlin and Waterloo Road nominated.

There will also be another appearance on the red carpet for the stars of The Only Way Is Essex with the show nominated for best reality show.

The awards take place on 13 September and will be hosted by Ben Miller.