Red carpet and body-doubles at TV awards

Tonight's National Television Awards ceremony will see a body-double with a difference.

14:36 26 October 2004

Tonight's National Television Awards ceremony will see a body-double with a difference.

EastEnders' Jessie Wallace, who is heavily pregnant, will have a stand-in waiting in the wings in case she goes into labour.

The event, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald at the Royal Albert Hall, lets viewers vote for their best small screen stars of the past 12-months.

Last year, EastEnders actors Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace, who play Alfie and Kat Moon, picked up the best actor and actress awards.

Once again Ms Wallace, whose baby is due in two weeks, has been nominated for best actress for her role as Kat Moon.

According to the Daily Mirror, an insider said: "We've got someone on stand-by so that if the baby comes - or if she doesn't feel up to it - they will dash on stage so we aren't left with a gap in the evening."

Soap operas Coronation Street and EastEnders will be battling it out in four of the 13 categories.

The most popular comedy category is between Friends, Last of the Summer Wine, Little Britain and My Family, while Ant and Dec are nominated for two awards: most popular entertainment presenter and most popular entertainment programme for Saturday Night Takeaway.

Bruce Forsyth will also be making his first National TV Awards appearance. He is up for an award with a nomination for Strictly Come Dancing.