British dramas earn 23 Emmy nominations

Elizabeth I and Bleak House have flown the British flag high in this year's nominations for the 58th Emmy Awards.

Although US drama Into The West topped the bill with 16 nominations, Channel Four's Elizabeth I followed closely in second with a total of 13 nominations.

Helen Mirren (Calendar Girls, The Pledge, Prime Suspect), who has won acclaim for her role as the virgin queen, has been nominated for the award for outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or a movie, as has Gillian Anderson (The X Files, A Cock And Bull Story, The Mighty Celt) for her performance as Lady Dedlock in BBC One's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House.

In total Bleak House is up for ten awards and Anderson, arguably best known for her X Files role, will compete with American heavyweights such as Annette Bening (American Beauty, Mars Attacks!, Being Julia) and Kathy Bates (Titanic, About Schmidt, Primary Colours).

On hearing of the nominations, Channel Four senior commissioning editor for drama Francis Hopkinson said: "I am delighted that the drama has been so well received and acknowledged in the US.

"These nominations are fantastic for British television and it is great to see Helen's magnificent performance being celebrated."

The US hit series 24, Grey's Anatomy and Will & Grace are also up for ten or more awards each.

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