Richard II, directed by Rupert Goold with screenplay by Goold and Ben Power, will compete against Hitchcock thriller The Girl, Channel 4’s Everyday, and BBC Two’s Murder for Best Single Drama.
The programme’s star Ben Whishaw, who took the title role, is up against Derek Jacobi, Sean Bean and Toby Jones in the best actor category, while Simon Russell Beale competes for best supporting actor for his part in Henry IV Part 2.
It could be the first success for a Shakespearean television adaptation in the single drama category, after Much Ado About Nothing and Othello were unsuccessfully nominated in 2006 and 2002 respectively.
The nominations, announced yesterday, also include honours for the London 2012 Olympics, after related programmes from Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony to satirical sitcom Twenty Twelve received eight nominations.Best drama series will be between Silk, Ripper Street, Scott and Bailey, and Last Tango in Halifax, which received four nods in total including best actress for Anne Reid and best support actress for Sarah Lancashire.
Period drama Downton Abbey has been snubbed this year despite the shock exit of star Dan Stevens, while Benedict Cumberbatch missed out on a best actor nomination for Parade's End.
The Arqiva British Academy Television Awards will take place on Sunday, May 12 at London's Royal Festival Hall, hosted by Graham Norton.
