SMASH hit Dorset television shows Broadchurch and Downton Abbey will go head to head in this year’s National Television Awards.

Crime thriller Broadchurch, which is set to begin filming for its third series, has been shortlisted in two categories with Downton Abbey bagging one nomination.

The National Television Awards, as known as the NTAs, are one of the most prestigious awards in the industry.

West Dorset-set Broadchurch, which averaged more than nine million viewers per episode in its second series, has been shortlisted for Best Drama and will go up against Downton Abbey, penned by Dorset-based Lord Julian Fellowes, which drew in 10.5 million viewers for its Christmas Day special finale.

The smash-hit duo will also be up against big hitters Dr Who and Casualty.

Broadchurch, written by Bridport-based, writer Chris Chibnall has won a host of awards since the first series hit our screens back in 2013, with the nation gripped by who killed Danny Latimer, and then the subsequent trial in series 2.

David Tennant has also been shortlisted in the Best Drama Performance category at the NTAs, and will go up against Aidan Turner from Poldark, Sheridan Smith from Black Work and Suranne Jones from Doctor Foster.

Cameras are set to return to West Bay in the coming months as filming for series three gets underway, but the Echo can confirm that it has not already started contrary to some national media reports.

Period drama Downton Abbey, created by West Stafford-based writer Lord Julian Fellowes, has also been a roaring success, scooping countless awards.

It was the talk of Christmas television in 2015, with its last ever show screened on Christmas Day, wrapping up the long-running series.

In the other categories, Britain’s Got Talent, X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, and The Voice UK will go head to head in the Talent Show category.

In the Challenge Show category, Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, MasterChef, The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off will go head to head.

Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks will all vie for best Serial Drama, with Benidorm, Birds of a Feather, Not Going Out and Peter Kay’s Car Share competing for the best comedy crown.

Doctor Foster, Humans, Ordinary Lies and Poldark will be up against each other in best New Drama, with DIY SOS: The Big Build, Gogglebox, Paul O’Grady For The Love of Dogs and Top Gear will all up for best Factual Entertainment show.

In the Live Magazine Show category, BBC Breakfast, This Morning, Loose Women and The One Show will all be hoping to be crowned winners Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Celebrity Juice, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and The Graham Norton Show will be up for best Entertainment Programme.

Gemma Atkinson, Richard Blackwood, Parry Glasspool, Shayne Ward will all be up for best Newcomer, with Danny Dyer, Alison King, Michael Parr and Rakhee Thakrar all up for best serial drama performance.

In the International category, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black and The Big Bang Theory are all up against each other, with Pointless, The Chase, The Jeremy Kyle Show and The Paul O’Grady show all up for best Daytime show.

Finally, Popular hosts Ant and Dec, Graham Norton, Mel and Sue and Rylan Clark will all be competing for best TV presenter.

You can vote for your favourite shows by visiting nationaltvawards.com/vote