LONDON • The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) will celebrate the best of television broadcast in Britain last year in a live show at the end of next month - though with stars and studio audience absent.

Chernobyl, HBO's critically acclaimed dramatisation of events surrounding the world's worst nuclear accident, tops the roll-call of nominations - at 14 - announced on Thursday.

"We've had more than 500 entries this year... (so) it was really fiercely contested," Bafta chairman Krishnendu Majumdar told Reuters TV.

Nominations fall into two categories - television and television craft - with winners of the former to be announced at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards ceremony on July 31.

As things stand with the coronavirus pandemic, nominees are expected to film their speeches rather than appear in person and there are no plans for a big audience. However, there will be a live element to the BBC show, which actor and film-maker Richard Ayoade will present.

"Details are being worked out at the moment because the social distancing rules are changing. What we can say at the moment is that there will be a show in a studio and we're working out the participants," Mr Majumdar said.

Chernobyl nominations include Leading Actor for Jared Harris, Supporting Actor for Stellan Skarsgard, and mini-series.

The Crown, the warts-and-all account of the reign of Queen Elizabeth that aired its third season last year, has seven nominations, with actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge's black comedy Fleabag and Anglo-Japanese thriller Giri/Haji on six each.

The British Academy Television Craft Awards will be announced online on July 17.

REUTERS