VOTING has opened for the public to crown the winners of this year’s National Television Awards (NTAs).

Walkden’s Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in ITV’s Coronation Street, is among those nominated and is hoping for victory in the Serial Drama Performance category.

Doctor Who will be hoping to defeat Merlin, Sherlock and Downton Abbey in the Drama category.

The Great British Bake Off, which features the stars of this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival — Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry — faces competition from Top Gear, The Apprentice and Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs in the Factual Ente-tainment category.

I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, which featured Bolton’s Helen Flanagan in this year’s series, is up against Alan Carr: Chatty Man, The Only Way Is Essex and The Graham Norton Show for best Entertainment Programme.

Dancing On Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK, Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor have been shortlisted for the talent show category.

There are 14 categories and people can vote by visiting nationaltvawards.com.

Prizes will be handed out at a ceremony at London's O2 Arena on January 23.