Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs?
- Publication: Belfast Telegraph
- Date: 2011-01-04
- Author: Maureen Coleman
- Page: 18
- Language: English
ONE portrays an eccentric, pipesmoking detective fighting criminal masterminds, the other a time-travelling doctor who repeatedly saves Planet Earth from alien attack.
Now both men are set to battle it out with each other, going head to head at the National Television Awards.
Doctor Who star Matt Smith (28) will take on Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch (34).
Both stars, who were thrust into the limelight last year as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor and the quirky detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, have been nominated for best drama performance.
Philip Glenister also competes for the title for his role in Ashes To Ashes, as does five times National Television Awards winner David Jason for A Touch Of Frost.
Smith and Cumberbatch's BBC1 dramas - Doctor Who and Sherlock - have also been shortlisted for best drama, against rivals Shameless (Channel 4) and BBC1 school series Waterloo Road.
The two actors won critical acclaim for their respective roles in 2010.
The previous year Smith had been announced as the 11th Doctor, replacing David Tennent.
His virtual obscurity and the fact that, at 26, he was the youngest actor to play the coveted role prompted the Press to speculate "Dr Who?"
However, fans soon warmed to Smith's off-the-wall portrayal of the Doctor and he is set to return for a new series this year.
Cumberbatch, meanwhile, was cast as Holmes in a new television adaptation opposite Martin Freeman as Doctor Watson.
By coincidence, Smith auditioned for the role of Watson in Sherlock Holmes, which was co-created by Dr Who writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.
Smith's style of acting was deemed too eccentric to play the more straight-laced Watson.
Moffatt thought he would have made a better Holmes, but that part had already been given to Cumberbatch.
Smith also auditioned for Dr Who at the same time and was offered that role instead.
Also up for his first NTA in London later this month is X Factor host Dermot O'Leary. He will compete against Britain's Got Talent stars Ant and Dec, who are aiming for their record-breaking 10th consecutive win in the category.
Davina McCall, who presented the final Big Brother last year, and Paul O'Grady, the host of Paul O'Grady Live, are also in the running.
Two of Simon Cowell's shows, the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, are in the running for the talent show category against BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing and ITV's Dancing On Ice.
Coronation Street, which has been celebrating its 50th anniversary, is up for best serial, against EastEnders, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary episode. The shortlist and eventual winners of the National Television Awards are voted for by viewers. The ceremony, hosted by O'Leary from the O2 Arena, will be broadcast live on ITV1 on Wednesday, January 26.
Caption: Awards battle: Matt Smith (left) and Benedict Cumberbatch
matt vs benedict
Dr Who: If you're into floppy hair, bow ties and a cheeky grin, Matt Smith is the man for you. His schoolboy charm can bring female fans to their knees, with a sense of humour that has won over even the toughest of critics. His baby-face looks wow audiences across the globe. Rumoured to be dating underwear model Daisy Lowe.
Sherlock: If you didn't know Sherlock Holmes could get you hot under the collar then you haven't been introduced to the luscious Benedict Cumberbatch. Whether it's his dark brown eyes, posh boy appeal or perfectly-tailored suits, this London actor is one to watch. A drama graduate who spent a year in a Tibetan monastery, he's sensitive, intelligent, sophisticated and sexy. If you're looking for effortless charm, style and a mischievous look in his eye, Sherlock is a cut above the rest.
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Coleman, Maureen (2011-01-04). Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs?. Belfast Telegraph p. 18.
- MLA 7th ed.: Coleman, Maureen. "Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs?." Belfast Telegraph [add city] 2011-01-04, 18. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Coleman, Maureen. "Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs?." Belfast Telegraph, edition, sec., 2011-01-04
- Turabian: Coleman, Maureen. "Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs?." Belfast Telegraph, 2011-01-04, section, 18 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_or_Sherlock:_who_will_win_fight_of_the_TV_oddballs%3F | work=Belfast Telegraph | pages=18 | date=2011-01-04 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=27 May 2026 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Doctor or Sherlock: who will win fight of the TV oddballs? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_or_Sherlock:_who_will_win_fight_of_the_TV_oddballs%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>
