Ant and lonely Dec up for gong but will Claire rule as Baftas Queen?
Michelle Keegan announced nominations yesterday A FORMER head of the Army yesterday called for a time limit on inquiries into allegations of abuse by soldiers.
General Richard Dannatt spoke out after Major Robert Campbell, 45, said he was being investigated for the eighth time over the death of Iraqi teenager Said Shabram in 2003.
Major Campbell, a decorated officer, was told in 2006 there was no case to answer.
Meanwhile, ex-soldier Dennis Hutchings, 76, is facing trial for attempted murder over a shooting while on patrol in Northern Ireland 44 years ago.
General Dannatt, a crossbench peer and chief of the general staff from 2006 to 2009, said: “When is enough enough? How far back should these historical inquiries go?
“It offends natural justice in the case of Dennis Hutchings that something that happened more than 40 years ago is now being brought up again.”
British soldiers faced 3,400 allegations of abuse in Iraq, most presented by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner who was struck off last year after being found guilty of “multiple professional charges”.
The Government set up the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) to investigate the claims but it was shut down in 2017. The Iraq Fatality Investigations unit, running since 2014, is again investigating Major Campbell.
Lord Dannatt said: “Ihat was tasked to look into an incredibly ANT McPartlin and Dec Donnelly received a Bafta TV nomination for their hit show Saturday Night Takeaway yesterday.
The news came days after Dec presented the show solo when Ant went into rehab after being charged with drink-driving last month.
The Saturday night show is up for best entertainment programme against Britain’s Got Talent – which the pair also present – The Voice, all on ITV, and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show on BBC One.
Line Of Duty received the most nominations with four, including best leading actress for Thandie Newton who played detective Roz Huntley in the gripping BBC drama.
The show is also nominated for the must-see moment for Huntley’s narrow escape from death by chainsaw.
Claire Foy was nominated for the second year running for her portrayal of a young unrealistically large number of allegations of abuse by soldiers.
“Yet there’s not been a single prosecution arising from Ihat, except for one Ihat investigator being charged with impersonating a police officer.
“Major Campbell and many others have had a miserable time from the MoD’s enthusiasm Queen Elizabeth in Netflix series The Crown. Other must-see moment contenders – the only award nominated by the public – include Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester concert performance dedicated to victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack. Actress Michelle Keegan helped to announce the nominations.
The awards will be hosted by ex-Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins at London’s Royal Festival Hall on May 13. Will Claire Foy, above, wear the best leading actress crown? Left, Line Of Duty’s gripping chainsaw scene is a must-see contender