She has had plenty of practice making acceptance speeches over the years.

But Dame Judi Dench, 73, may have to reel off the list of thank yous once again after receiving a record 24th Bafta nomination.

She is up for the best actress prize for her role in BBC series Cranford, along with her co-star Dame Eileen Atkins, also 73.

Scroll down for more...

Dame Eileen Atkins and Dame Judi Dench are both nominated for best actress for their roles in the BBC drama Cranford

The BBC drama, based on the books by Elizabeth Gaskell, yesterday has three nominations - the highest number of any programme.

Dame Judi's other rivals for the best actress prize are former winner Gina McKee, nominated for BBC1 drama The Street, and Kierston Wareing for It's A Free World on Channel 4.

Cranford is also in the running for best drama serial, up against Channel 4's Britz and BBC1's Five Days and Murphy's Law.

In the entertainment programme category, Britain's Got Talent - the show won by opera singer Paul Potts - goes head-to-head with Strictly Come Dancing. The other nominees in the category are Have I Got News for You and Harry Hill's TV Burp.

For the first time in ten years, Coronation Street failed to be nominated in the Continuing Drama category. its soap rivals EastEnders, The Bill, Emmerdale and Holby City are up for the award.

In contrast to the best actress category, all the best actor contenders are first-time nominees.

They are Andrew Garfield for Boy A (Channel 4), Tom Hardy for Stuart: A Life Backwards (BBC2), Matthew Macfadyen for Secret Life (Channel 4), and Antony Sher for Primo (BBC4).

The British Academy Television Awards will be held at the London Palladium on April 20, hosted by Graham Norton, and broadcast on BBC1.