Sachs is cross as Ross is up for Bafta

Ross could be named Britain's top entertainer at the British Academy's television awards despite being suspended by the BBC for three months last autumn after making lewd calls to Sachs.

The Fawlty Towers star, 78, who received a series of obscene messages on his answering machine from Ross and Russell Brand, asked why Ross was being put up for critical recognition so soon after the scandal.

He said: "Blimey, that is a bit of a surprise. One would question the reasons when it comes so quickly after what happened. I wonder how much it has to do with trying to comfort him? I don't know."

Sachs added that he had "moved on from the row" but his wife Melody said Bafta's decision had left her "flabbergasted".

She added: "I am amazed Ross should get rewarded with a mouth like his. Nobody is saying he hasn't got talent, but what he did was so disgusting."

Georgina Baillie, Mr Sachs's granddaughter, who was mentioned in the call, said: "I think it's fine if Jonathan wins a Bafta but I hope that instead of putting it on his mantelpiece he shoves it up Brand's arse."

Ross, 48, received his nomination in the entertainment performance category for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross. It is the fourth time he has been nominated. He told fans of his online Twitter blog that he had celebrated while playing tennis with his comedian friend Jimmy Carr.

He posted: "Just thrashed Jimmy Carr at tennis - perfect day!"

Conservative frontbencher Henry Bellingham condemned the nomination. "It is deeply inappropriate," he said. "His show is in such poor taste that he is the last person in the entertainment world who should be nominated."

Labour MP Des Turner added: "Giving him a Bafta would seriously devalue these awards."

Ross will compete against Ant and Dec, Harry Hill and Stephen Fry at the awards at the Royal Festival Hall on 26 April.

Kenneth Branagh received his sixth nomination in today's shortlist. The 48-year-old actor is up for his first Bafta as producer - for the BBC Swedish detective mini series Wallander. He faces a trio of previous winners in Spooks, Shameless and Doctor Who in the best drama series category.

BBC4's drama Hancock And John, based on the life of comic genius Tony Hancock, is up for three awards with Ken Stott recognised in the best actor category.

First-time nominee Andrea Riseborough is favourite in the actress category for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Long Walk To Finchley.

In the international category, Baltimore police drama The Wire, starring London actors Dominic West and Idris Elba, is up against Dexter, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Mad Men.

BEST ACTOR

Stephen Dillane, The Shooting Of Thomas Hurndall; Jason Isaacs, The Curse Of Steptoe; Ken Stott, Hancock And Joan; Ben Whishaw, Criminal Justice

BEST ACTRESS

June Brown, EastEnders; Anna Maxwell Martin, Poppy Shakespeare; Maxine Peake, Hancock And Joan; Andrea Riseborough, Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk To Finchley

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE

Stephen Fry, QI; Harry Hill, Harry Hill's TV Burp; Ant & Dec, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!; Jonathan Ross, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Rob Brydon, Gavin & Stacey; Sharon Horgan, Pulling; David Mitchell, Peep Show; Claire Skinner, Outnumbered

DRAMA SERIES

Doctor Who; Shameless; Spooks; Wallander

CONTINUING DRAMA

The Bill; Casualty; EastEnders; Emmerdale

INTERNATIONAL

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; Dexter; Mad Men; The Wire

COMEDY PROGRAMME

Harry And Paul; The Peter Serafinowicz Show; Star Stories

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME

Fri/Sun Night Project; Harry Hill's TV Burp; QI; X Factor; That Mitchell And Webb Look