Waleed Aly to vie with Project co-host Carrie Bickmore, Lee Lin Chin, Essie Davis and Grant Denyer for Gold Logie

THERE were plenty of surprises when the 2016 TV WEEK Logie Award nominees were read out with six in line for the Gold Logie.

DIVERSITY was the word of the day as the full list of 2016 TV WEEK Logie nominees were announced at a star-studded event in Melbourne this afternoon.

And no category embodied that more than the coveted Gold Logie list.

While last year’s winner Carrie Bickmore received another nod as did traditionally popular golden boy Scott Cam, Waleed Aly, Lee Lin Chin, Essie Davis and Grant Denyer rounded out the list vying for the big award.

“It’s going to be very awkward at The Project for the next month,” joked fellow co-host Peter Helliar, who announced the nominations at the Crown Melbourne.

Waleed and I feigning competiveness #tvweeklogies #Gold #Chuffed #WaleedForGold pic.twitter.com/PIUa6LNU3G

— Carrie Bickmore (@BickmoreCarrie) April 3, 2016

A radiant Bickmore told the Herald Sun: “I’m still relishing my win from last year, to be perfectly honest, so I’d be happy for Waleed to take out the Gold Logie. It sounds cheesy, but I already still feel like a winner. I’m happy to sit in that glow for a little while longer.”

Aly, grinning, said: “It’s not a competition between us. The nomination was such a surprise. To me, what happens from here is just a bonus.”

Congrats to a couple of superstars @BickmoreCarrie and Waleed Aly on the #tvweeklogies gold noms

— lehmo (@lehmo23) April 3, 2016

Bickmore, who has been nominated for gold several times, offered to coach Aly in the lead up to the awards ceremony in May.

“This is a new thing for Waleed to be nominated for a Logie, and he comes out of the block, and goes for gold. He’s started at the top,” Bickmore said, laughing. “I’ve walked this path a couple of times, so I’ll hold Waleed’s hand.”

The presenters said the nominations were a great endorsement for The Project.

“There is something about The Project that works its way into the hearts of people who watch it. That’s a rare thing,” Aly said.

“And it’s just dawned on me: when the show opens each night, and there’s that two shot of Carrie and I — that’s two Gold Logie nominees. That’s a powerful statement the show is landing.”

And mega congratulations to two of the best in the business, Waleed Aly & @BickmoreCarrie on their Gold #Logie nominations - BOOM!! 👊🏻📺

— Ness Cryer (@lochness007) April 3, 2016

Carrie Bickmore and Waleed Aly from Chanel Ten’s The Project who are both nominated for a Gold Logie. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Last year, Bickmore turned her win, and victory speech, into raising awareness about brain cancer, which claimed the life of her husband Greg in 2010. She famously wore a beanie to symbolise the cause.

“It’s been a busy year,” Bickmore said. “I had a baby, I set up the (Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer) Foundation. Everywhere I turn, people are talking about brain cancer, so it’s on the radar.

“I think there has been a lift in everyone’s thinking and people are taking action. I couldn’t be prouder and more stoked.”

Something tells me things could be awkward on set @theprojecttv w/@BickmoreCarrie & Waleed both gold noms! #wildcard pic.twitter.com/oB5D6whzKV

— Shaynna Blaze (@ShaynnaBlaze) April 3, 2016

Gold Logie nominees Carrie Bickmore, Essie Davis, Grant Denyer, Scott Cam, Lee Lin Chin and Waleed Aly. Picture: Supplied

While we saw some perennial favourites make the cut, including Home and Away and the show’s popular stars including Stephen Peacocke, Bonnie Sveen and Pia Miller, there were plenty of newcomers — and longstanding underappreciated players — who also made the grade.

Seven drama 800 Words dominated both the most popular and outstanding categories, with the show tipped to take home a slew of awards on the night.

CONGRATS @MorrisseyMgt beautiful @melina_vidler received the @TVWEEKmag #Logie Award for #MostOutstandingNewcomerActress @Channel7 @800words

— CLPR (@CLPRptyltd) April 3, 2016

Erik Thomson, Melina Vidler and Benson Jack Anthony and their drama 800 Words were all nominated for a 2016 Logie. Vidler won Most Outstanding Newcomer — Actress. Picture: Supplied / Channel Seven

Foxtel’s revived A Place to Call Home also got plenty of Logies love. The drama, along with 800 Words and the Nine Network’s Love Child were nominated for the viewer voted Best Drama and the peer-voted Most Outstanding Drama Series.

Mandy McElhinney, nominated in the Most Outstanding Actress category, at the Logies Nominations Picture: Mark Dadswell

Marta Dusseldorp, was the ceremony when nominated for the Best Actress award, for her role in Foxtel’s A Place To Call Home, the drama which itself garnered a Most Outstanding Drama award nomination. Picture: Mark Dadswell

It was a relatively even split when it came to nominations for each network.

ABC led the field with 33 nods — primarily in the most outstanding categories.

Seven pipped Nine at the post with 27 to 25 nominations. Foxtel received 20, while Ten scored 19 and SBS 6.

In addition, the winners of the first three categories were announced on the day.

The Graham Kennedy Breakthrough Award was taken by 14-year-old Ky Baldwin for his work in Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door.

Melina Vidler (800 Words, Seven Network) was named Most Outstanding Newcomer — Actress, while Joel Jackson surprised nobody by taking out Most Outstanding Newcomer — Actor for his turn as the legendary Peter Allen in Not The Boy Next Door.

Ky Baldwin wins The Graham Kennedy Breakthrough Star of Tomorrow award at the Logies Nominations ceremony at Crown Melbourne. Picture: Mark Dadswell

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality On Australian TV

Carrie Bickmore (The Project, Network Ten)

Waleed Aly (The Project, Network Ten)

Grant Denyer (Family Feud / The Great Australian Spelling Bee, Network Ten)

Lee Lin Chin (SBS World News / The Feed, SBS)

Scott Cam (The Block, Reno Rumble, Nine Network)

Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC)

Best Actor

Congrats @CraigMcLachlan @doctorblaketv on your @TVWEEKmag #Logie #BestActor nomination pic.twitter.com/pMsL9cTN4z

— KT Publicity (@KTPublicity) April 3, 2016

Craig McLachlan (The Doctor Blake Mysteries, ABC)

Craig McLachlan was the Logies Nominations ceremony to hear his name called out in the Best Actor category. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Erik Thomson (800 Words, Channel Seven)

Firass Dirani (House Husbands, Nine Network)

Josh Thomas (Please Like Me, ABC)

Stephen Peacocke (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

Best Actress

Bonnie Sveen (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC)

Jessica Marais (Love Child, Nine Network)

Julia Morris (House Husbands, Nine Network)

Marta Dusseldorp (A Place To Call Home, Foxtel — SoHo)

Presenter

Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Network Ten)

Carrie Bickmore (The Project, Network Ten)

Grant Denyer (Family Feud / The Great Australian Spelling Bee, Network Ten)

Lee Lin Chin (SBS World News / The Feed, SBS)

Waleed Aly (The Project, Network Ten)

Best New Talent

Adam Dovile (Better Homes And Gardens, Channel Seven)

Benson Jack Anthony (800 Words, Channel Seven)

Dan Reilly (The Block, Nine Network)

Joel Jackson (Deadline Gallipoli / Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Foxtel — Showcase / Channel Seven)

Pia Miller (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

Best Drama Program

800 Words (Channel Seven)

A Place To Call Home (Foxtel — SoHo)

Home And Away (Channel Seven)

House Husbands (Nine Network)

Love Child (Nine Network)

Best Entertainment Program

Family Feud (Network Ten)

Gruen (ABC)

Tom Gleisner saw his Network Ten show Have You Been Paying Attention nominated in the Best Entertainment Program and Most Outstanding Entertainment Program categories. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Charlie Pickering was at Crown Melbourne to hear his ABC show The Weekly With Charlie Pickering was nomuination in the Most Outstand Entertainment Program category. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network Ten)

The Voice (Nine Network)

The X Factor Australia (Channel Seven)

Best News, Panel or Current Affairs program

60 Minutes (Nine Network)

Q&A (ABC)

Sunrise (Channel Seven)

The Project (Network Ten)

Today (Nine Network)

Best Reality Program

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (Network Ten)

MasterChef Australia (Network Ten)

My Kitchen Rules (Channel Seven)

That's a familiar face! Congrats to our very own @Sam_Frost and #TheBachelorette team on their #Logie nomination! pic.twitter.com/UPmj0Zt0Fd

— Rove and Sam (@RoveAndSam) April 3, 2016

The Bachelorette, Australia (Network Ten)

The Block (Nine Network)

Best Sports Program

AFL 360 (Foxtel — Fox Footy)

Marngrook Footy Show (NITV)

The AFL Footy Show (Nine Network)

The NRL Footy Show (Nine Network)

Wide World Of Sports (Nine Network)

Best Lifestyle Program

Congrats #SellingHousesAustralia @LifeStyleTV @Foxtel & @ShaynnaBlaze on @TVWEEKmag #Logie #BestLifestyleProgram nom pic.twitter.com/OPg1z6iVUb

— Angie Young (@AngieXposed) April 3, 2016

Better Homes And Gardens (Channel Seven)

Gardening Australia (ABC)

Getaway (Nine Network)

Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel — The LifeStyle Channel)

The Living Room (Network Ten)

Best Factual Program

Australian Story (ABC)

Bondi Rescue (Network Ten)

Bondi Vet (Network Ten)

Gogglebox (Foxtel — The LifeStyle Channel / Network Ten)

Who Do You Think You Are? (SBS)

MOST OUTSTANDING CATEGORIES

Most Outstanding Actor

Alex Dimitriades (Matt Bashir, The Principal, SBS)

Hugh Dancy (Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, Deadline Gallipoli, Foxtel — Showcase)

Malcolm Kennard (Ivan Milat, Catching Milat, Channel Seven)

Patrick Brammall (James Hayes, Glitch, ABC)

Sam Neill (Lang Hancock, House Of Hancock, Nine Network)

Most Outstanding Actress

Deborah Mailman (Lorraine, Redfern Now: Promise Me, ABC)

Essie Davis (Phryne Fisher, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC)

Mandy McElhinney (Gina Rinehart, House Of Hancock, Nine Network)

Pamela Rabe (Joan Ferguson, Wentworth, Foxtel — SoHo)

Sarah Snook (Anna Ivin, The Beautiful Lie, ABC)

Most Outstanding Supporting Actor

Dan Wyllie (Jimmy, No Activity, Stan)

David Berry (James Bligh, A Place To Call Home, Foxtel — SoHo)

Ryan Corr (Corporal MacDonald, Banished, Foxtel — BBC First)

Tim Minchin (Jacob, No Activity, Stan)

Tim Minchin (Smasher Sullivan, The Secret River, ABC)

Most Outstanding Supporting Actress

Celia Ireland (Liz Birdsworth, Wentworth, Foxtel — SoHo)

Emily Barclay (Sarah Hayes, Glitch, ABC)

Harriet Dyer (Patricia Saunders, Love Child, Nine Network)

Jenni Baird (Regina Standish, A Place To Call Home, Foxtel — SoHo)

Rarriwuy Hick (Robyn Davis, Redfern Now: Promise Me, ABC)

Most Outstanding Drama Series

800 Words (Channel Seven)

A Place To Call Home (Foxtel — SoHo)

Glitch (ABC)

Love Child (Nine Network)

Wentworth (Foxtel — SoHo)

Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie

Deadline Gallipoli (Foxtel — showcase)

House Of Hancock (Nine Network)

Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door (Channel Seven)

The Beautiful Lie (ABC)

The Secret River (ABC)

Most Outstanding Entertainment Program

Gruen (ABC)

Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network Ten)

The Voice (Nine Network)

The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (ABC)

The X Factor Australia (Channel Seven)

Most Outstanding Comedy Program

No Activity (Stan)

Open Slather (Foxtel — The Comedy Channel)

Please Like Me (ABC)

Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell (ABC)

Utopia (ABC)

Most Outstanding News Coverage’

Congrats to @David_Speers + @SkyNewsAust team on a well deserved #Logie nomination for Turnbull V Abbott. pic.twitter.com/Qq7ZfqS6Vn

— Paul Murray (@PMOnAir) April 3, 2016

“Iraq-Syria War Coverage” (ABC 7pm News, ABC)

“Liberal Leadership Crisis: Abbott V Turnbull” (Foxtel — SKY NEWS LIVE)

“Migrant Crisis — Special Report” (ABC 7pm News, ABC)

“Paris Attack” (Seven News, Channel Seven)

“Parramatta Shooting” (Seven News, Channel Seven)

Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report

“Catching A Monster” (60 Minutes, Nine Network)

“Hitting Home” (Hitting Home, ABC)

“Making A Killing” (Four Corners, ABC)

“The Killing Season” (The Killing Season, ABC)

“The Siege Survivors” (60 Minutes, Nine Network)

Most Outstanding Sports Coverage

2015 Australian Open (Channel Seven/7TWO)

Emirates Melbourne Cup (Channel Seven)

KFC T20 Big Bash League (Network Ten)

NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final (Nine Network)

Holden State of Origin II (Nine Network)

Most Outstanding Children’s Program

Bottersnikes & Gumbles (Channel Seven)

Bushwacked! (ABC3)

Little Lunch (ABC3)

Play Along With Sam (Foxtel — Nick Jr.)

Ready For This (ABC3)

Most Outstanding Newcomer Actor

Joel Jackson (Charles Bean, Deadline Gallipoli, Foxtel- Showcase)

Joel Jackson (Peter Allen, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Channel Seven) WINNER

Rahel Romahn (Tarek Ahmad, The Principal, SBS)

Most Outstanding Newcomer — Actress

Hannah Monson (Kirstie Darrow, Glitch, ABC)

Melina Vidler (Shay Turner, 800 Words, Channel Seven) WINNER

Sara West (Liza Minnelli, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Channel Seven)

The Graham Kennedy Breakthrough Star Of Tomorrow

Benson Jack Anthony (Arlo Turner, 800 Words, Channel Seven)

Ky Baldwin (Young Peter Allen, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Channel Seven) WINNER

Olivia DeJonge (Shaneen Quigg/Tara Swift, Hiding, ABC)

*The 58th Logie Awards will be presented at Crown’s Palladium Room in Melbourne on May 8

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NUI TE KOHA

Originally published as Waleed Aly to vie with Project co-host Carrie Bickmore, Lee Lin Chin, Essie Davis and Grant Denyer for Gold Logie