WHEN acclaimed Liverpool screenwriter Alan Bleasdale heard of the Bafta nomination for his two-part drama, The Sinking of the Laconia, the news was bitter sweet.

It had taken six long years to get the drama to the screen, so the acclaimed writer was delighted when he heard his real-life tale of the “nice Nazi” had made the shortlist.

But last night he revealed to the Liverpool Daily Post he was deeply disappointed because the drama’s “wonderful cast” had not been individually nominated for an award.

Speaking from his Merseyside home, Bleasdale said he was happy the drama was one of only four shortlisted for this year’s drama serial award.

He said: “While I’m pleased the drama got the nomination, because I’m a writer I work closely with actors so I was disappointed their remarkable performances wouldn’t be rewarded.

“I knew Franka Potente [who played Hilda] from The Bourne Identity movies, but I never thought I’d get the chance to work with a Hollywood star.

“A German producer sent the script to her, but I didn’t believe for one second she would do it. And then there was an email the next day saying ‘When do I start?’

“Ken Duken, who played commander Werner Hartenstein, was sensational.

“It was a wonderful cast, there was Andrew Buchan and [Liverpool actor] Lenny Wood. Actors need writers but writers also need actors.”

The nomination is Bleasdale’s first since 1991, when he was up for an award for GBH in the same category.

The show was beaten to the award by Prime Suspect in controversial circumstances, dubbed Baftagate, when four of the seven judges later said they voted for GBH to win.

The other nominated programmes this year are Any Human Heart, whose star Jim Broadbent is nominated for a best actor BAFTA, The Promise and Mad Dogs.

The Sinking of The Laconia tells the story of a German U-Boat attack on a converted Liverpool-based liner during World War II.