GRAHAM Linehan is heading into the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) this weekend with two of his shows competing for the same award.
The Irish writer received a double nomination for The It Crowd and Count Arthur Strong, with both series going head-to-head in the category for Best Situation Comedy.
Ahead of Sunday’s ceremony in London’s West End at the Theatre Royal, Linehan told the Irish Post that he would prefer BBC Two’s Count Arthur Strong to be announced as the winning show, rather than the hugely popular Channel 4 series The It Crowd.
“I'd like to win for Count Arthur, just because the only thing awards are good for is getting a bit of publicity for the show,” he said.
“Count Arthur needs the publicity, whereas The IT Crowd won't be back so doesn't need that kind of help.”
Last month, Linehan claimed victory at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Craft Awards.
He won the Best Writer, Comedy award for his work on The IT Crowd, a triumph that he claims even the actors in the show were not aware of.
“It's nice to get some publicity. The BAFTA I won at the Craft awards, or as I call them, the Secret BAFTAs, for writing IT Crowd was so under the radar that even my cast don't know I won it!”
Other Irish talent nominated for the TV BAFTA awards including Jamie Dornan for his role in The Fall and The Graham Norton Show for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme.
The Arqiva British Academy Television Awards takes place on Sunday 18 May 2014, 8:00pm, BBC One
