Ricky Gervais is the big Brit name for this year's Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards for landing himself (by association) a whole bunch of nominations.

Firstly, Gervais and co-creator Stephen Marchant have a direct nomination for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series for Extras and are actually up against the US spin-off of The Office Christmas Special in the same category.

Other Extras associated nods are two nominations in Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series; for Patrick Stewart and Ben Stiller and an Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series for Kate Winslet.

The American The Office could reap a whole bunch of rewards with a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, two for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series, and one for Steve Carrell  for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series.

They are up against the likes of Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scrubs, Two And A Half Men, Desperate Housewives, Weeds and Monk across the categories.

The Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy battle it out for the award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).

I wonder when they will start giving out awards for the longest named award?

The ceremony will be held on 27th August and the list of all nominations (including the boring dramas that no-one's heard of) is here.