THE Responder, which was partly filmed in St Helens, is up for six Bafta Television awards.
The Liverpool-based crime drama is shortlisted for best drama and its star Martin Freeman is nominated for the title of best leading actor.
Freeman will be up against other big hitters such as Ben Whishaw for This is Going to Hurt, Cillian Murphy for Peaky Blinders, Gary Oldman for Slow Horses, Taron Egerton for Black Bird and Chaske Spencer for The English.
Bad Sisters - Apple TV, Sherwood - BBC One and Somewhere Boy - Channel 4 are also nominated for best drama.
The series, which used Taylor Park and streets nearby as filming locations in 2021, is also up for supporting actor for Josh Finan, supporting actress for Adelayo Adedayo and for best drama series.
The show is also nominated for best original music in a fictional drama with the nomination going to Matthew Herbert in the production team.
The series follows Freeman’s character Chris across six night shifts as an urgent response police officer and won plaudits for its gritty style and narrative.
It was written by ex-Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher, who spent time working response in St Helens, and is based on his experiences on the job.
He has received a nomination for best writer of a drama.
Announcing the news via Twitter, he said: “BBC News - Bafta TV Awards 2023: This is Going to Hurt and The Responder lead nominations.
“We did it.
“There'll be a thread about this later when my head stops wobbling.”
BBC News - Bafta TV Awards 2023: This is Going to Hurt and The Responder lead nominations.
— Tony Schumacher (@tonyshoey) March 22, 2023
We did it.
There'll be a thread about this later when my head stops wobbling. https://t.co/ibZidkqZ9s
Tony, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "amazing" to be nominated.
He said: "I grew up in one of the worst areas in the country in terms of deprivation,"
"I got a U in my O-level English. I'd always wanted to be a writer but I thought, I haven't got an O-level so I can't be a writer, and it took me 40 years to realise that I could."
Sara Putt, deputy chair of Bafta and chair of Bafta’s Television Committee, said: “These nominations reflect some of those changes we are seeing today, and will continue to see in the future.
“The Bafta Elevate and Bafta Breakthrough talent schemes have also supported a number of first-time nominees across categories – so if you haven’t seen some of these nominated programmes, do watch them.”
This year’s Bafta TV ceremony will be hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan on May 14.
The Bafta Television Craft Awards will take place on April 23.
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