The Scottish actor has failed to make the shortlist for top drama performance at this year’s National Television Awards (NTA). The category was won by the three previous actors to take on the role, with Matt Smith, David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston all recognised. Although the 12th doctor made the NTA’s longlist, he did not make the final shortlist yesterday, the same day he began filming a new series of the programme in Cardiff. Capaldi’s depiction of an older, darker Doctor has been widely celebrated since he appeared in the 50th anniversary episode of the beloved series. Critic Ben Lawrence wrote the 56-year-old “fits right in” with the most “intelligent, ambitious and eccentric show on BritishTV,” thanks to an “unsettling, cerebral performance”. The judges of the NTA, however, disagreed, bucking a trend which has recognised actors who played the Doctor. Smith twice won the top acting award, and was shortlisted on a further two occasions, Tennant won four years consecutively, while Eccleston triumphed for his one year, after Doctor Who’s rebirth in 2005. Instead, this year’s contenders are Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch and Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire, as well as Sheridan Smith, lining up against her namesake Dame Maggie. Smith, who received an OBE in the New Year honours, has been included for her lead role in ITV’s Cilla, while Dame Maggie is up for her performance as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey. Doctor Who does not miss out entirely, lining up against Sherlock, Downton and Cilla for the best drama award. CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN • Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning • You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google + Elsewhere, there is good news for young Scottish actor Cameron Moore, who is in the running for the Newcomer prize for his role in Hollyoaks. The awards ceremony in London on 21 January, which will be broadcast live on ITV, will also see X Factor panellists Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini go head to head as best talent judge, with Britain’s Got Talent’s David Walliams and Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry completing the list. Bake Off is up for another prize, competing for the skills challenge award against The Apprentice, Masterchef and Come Dine With Me. Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright – who play Queen Vic bosses Mick and Linda Carter in BBC1’s EastEnders – are both up for the best serial drama performance, against Emmerdale’s Verity Rushworth, who plays Donna Windsor-Dingle, and Nikki Sanderson, who plays Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks. The factual programme prize will be fought over by Gogglebox, Long Lost Family, Top Gear and Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs. Michael McIntyre, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross, Paul O’Grady and Alan Carr are all nominated for best chat show host. Ant & Dec – who have won the most popular entertainment presenter prize for 13 years running – are up for the title again, facing Bradley Walsh, Keith Lemon and Dermot O’Leary. The Geordie duo also feature in the best entertainment programme category with Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! The category also features Through the Keyhole and Celebrity Big Brother. The 2014 X Factor may have been unable to match the audience of Saturday night rival Strictly Come Dancing, but it has a chance to redeem itself in the public vote as the two shows are shortlisted for best talent show along with Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice. Christmas Day TV hit Mrs Brown’s Boys faces Benidorm, Outnumbered and US sitcom The Big Bang Theory for the best comedy prize. Voting for the awards opened yesterday at www.nationaltvawards.com THE NOMINATIONS ARE … Factual Gogglebox; Long Lost Family; Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs; Top Gear Multichannel Celebrity Juice; Game Of Thrones; Geordie Shore; The Walking Dead Entertainment Presenter Ant & Dec; Keith Lemon; Dermot O’Leary; Bradley Walsh Entertainment Programme Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway; Celebrity Big Brother; Through The Keyhole; I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! Serial Drama Coronation Street; Eastenders; Emmerdale; Hollyoaks Newcomer Maddy Hill; Lee Mead; Cameron Moore; Michael Parr Talent Show Britain’s Got Talent; Strictly Come Dancing; The Voice UK; The X Factor Skills Challenge Show Come Dine with Me; MasterChef; The Apprentice; The Great British Bake Off TV Judge Mary Berry; Simon Cowell; David Walliams; Cheryl Fernandez-Versini Serial Drama Performance Kellie Bright; Danny Dyer; Verity Rushworth; Nikki Sanderson Chat Show Host Alan Carr; Michael McIntyre; Graham Norton; Paul O’Grady; Jonathan Ross Comedy Benidorm; Mrs Brown’s Boys; Outnumbered; The Big Bang Theory Daytime This Morning; Pointless; The Chase; The Jeremy Kyle Show Drama Performance Benedict Cumberbatch; Sarah Lancashire; Dame Maggie Smith; Sheridan Smith Drama Cilla; Doctor Who; Downton Abbey; Sherlock SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS • Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android and Kindle apps • Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use