SOME of Merseyside’s favourite stars of the small screen have been shortlisted for this year’s National Television Awards (NTA).

Wirral presenter Paul O’Grady is up for two awards – having already won two for his act as Birkenhead drag-queen Lily Savage in 1997 and 1999.

O’Grady is shortlisted for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter and Most Popular Entertainment Programme.

In both categories, he faces stiff compet- ition from Ant and Dec, who have won 11 NTAs in the past.

And Chester’s Hollyoaks is once again in the running for Most Popular Serial Drama.

With competition from the big three, Coronation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale, one of the soap’s actors is also in the running for Outstanding Serial Drama Performance.

Matt Littler, who played shop keeper Max Cunningham in the soap for 11 years, has been shortlisted alongside actors from each of the other soaps.

This category sees men go up against women for the first time, with a win for Littler certain to help him in his future career as a director.

Barry Sloane, who plays Niall Rafferty, is also up against a bevy of soap beauties for the award of Most Popular Newcomer.

More than a million votes have been cast by viewers so far to determine their television favourites.

Now in its 14th year, the event will be broadcast on ITV 1 on October 29, from London’s Royal Albert Hall.