FORMER Hereford college student Olly Alexander has been shortlisted for the drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.

Alexander, 31, has been shortlisted for his performance in Channel 4's It's A Sin, and will come up against all three stars of Line Of Duty for the award.

As well as Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar (Ted Hastings), Martin Compston (Steve Arnott) and Vicky McClure (Kate Fleming), David Tennant is also in the running for Des, a drama about serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

Former Hereford Sixth Form College and Hereford College of Arts student Olly Alexander, also now the solo member of Years & Years starred in the drama which told the story of a group of young friends living in London through the HIV/Aids crisis in the 1980s and its impact on the LGBT community.

Channel 4 labelled It's A Sin All 4's "most binged new series ever", with the first episode becoming the streaming service's most popular drama launch on record.

It was also praised for its candid view of the impact of the disease on the young men during the period.

Alexander, who went to St John's Primary School in Coleford and Monmouth Comprehensive School, said the experience of portraying Ritchie Tozer in the show had alerted him to the "privilege" of the better testing and healthcare now available.

It's A Sin is also nominated for the best new drama prize, alongside Des, period romp Bridgerton, and the hit adaptation of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, Normal People

Piers Morgan was shortlisted for a National Television Award months after he left Good Morning Britain.

The presenter left the ITV show in March following incendiary comments about the Duchess of Sussex.

The 56-year-old continued to host interview show Piers Morgan’s Life Stories for the channel, recently sitting down with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and actress Dame Joan Collins.

He will compete against Ant and Dec, Bradley Walsh and This Morning stars Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond for the TV presenter prize at the NTAs.

Line Of Duty, Call The Midwife, Unforgotten and lavish royal series The Crown have been nominated for the returning drama gong.

The documentary about late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack has been shortlisted for the factual prize.

Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death featured family and friends, including Olly Murs and Dermot O’Leary, speaking about how the presenter was affected by her life in the spotlight.

Flack took her own life at the age of 40, on February 15 2020, while awaiting trial on an assault charge for an alleged attack on her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.

Also nominated in the category is Gogglebox; Gordon, Gino And Fred: American Road Trip; and Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.

Kate Garraway is shortlisted in the new category of authored documentary for her poignant look at how the pandemic ravaged her family in Finding Derek.

The category was introduced following a wave of celebrity-led factual programmes.

Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford is also in the running for BBC show Feeding Britain’s Children, about the star’s campaign for free school meals; while Katie Price: Harvey and Me; Rob Burrow: My Year With MND; and Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency are also in the running.

Emmerdale, Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks are all up for best serial drama, while in the talent show category, first-time nominee The Masked Singer is listed alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing.

  • The National Television Awards, hosted by Joel Dommett, will take place in London on September 9.