DAVID MITCHELL - COMEDY AWARDS NOMINEES NAMED

The nominees for the 2007 British Comedy Awards have been announced though TV coverage of the event remains questionable.

ITV1 chose to suspend coverage of the annual event earlier this year, after alleged irregularities with a 2005 public phone vote were discovered.

But ceremony organisers have said the awards will take place on December 5th, with Jonathan Ross hosting.

BBC3's Gavin and Stacey heads the nominations this year, with seven nods in five categories.

The acclaimed sitcom is named in the best British comedy and the best new TV comedy categories, while all four of its stars - Matthew Horne, Joanna Page and co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones - are shortlisted in the best comedy newcomer categories.

Jones is also nominated in the best TV comedy actress categories for her roles in Gavin and Stacey and Saxondale.

Peep Show actor David Mitchell is up against Jack Dee, Lee Mack and Kevin Bishop in the best TV comedy actor category, while Friday Night Project presenters Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins face stiff competition for the best comedy entertainment personality prize from QI host Stephen Fry and Never Mind the Buzzcocks presenter Simon Amstell.

ITV duo Ant and Dec - whose victory of the 2005 people's choice award led to an internal investigation - are not nominated this year.

Law firm Olswang were hired by ITV to look into allegations that viewers were encouraged to vote in the category broadcast with a half-hour delay even though the winner - Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - had already been announced.