The nominations for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards have been unveiled.

In less surprising news, the HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones leads the way with a healthy nineteen nominations from its latest run of episodes, including the significant Outstanding Drama Series category.

Once again, Peter Dinklage is in contention to win Supporting Actor for his renowned role as Tyrion Lannister, while there is an overdue first Supporting Actress nomination for Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister.

However, Thrones faces heavy competition in Outstanding Drama Series from other big-hitting programmes, including the hit HBO crime thriller True Detective and the acclaimed final series of AMC’s Breaking Bad.

Having garnered universal praise for its last run of episodes in late 2013, Breaking Bad could well repeat its Emmy success from last year, with stars (and former winners) Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul all in contention for acting gongs.

Meanwhile, True Detective will be seeking to make an impact in the drama categories after competing as a limited series at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards this year.

Headline-making stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are both included in a formidable Lead Actor line-up that features Cranston, Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) and last year’s surprise winner Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom).

Meanwhile, Claire Danes is bidding to win her third straight Lead Actress Emmy despite an underwhelming third series of the espionage thriller Homeland. However, her competition includes previous winner Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) and returning nominees Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Kerry Washington (Scandal) and Robin Wright (House of Cards).

The rest of the high-profile acting nominees include Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Jon Voight (Ray Donovan).

The main list of drama nominations are below (winner predictions in blue):

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
BREAKING BAD
DOWNTON ABBEY
GAME OF THRONES
HOUSE OF CARDS
MAD MEN
TRUE DETECTIVE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Lizzy Caplan, MASTERS OF SEX
Claire Danes, HOMELAND
Michelle Dockery, DOWNTON ABBEY
Julianna Marguiles, THE GOOD WIFE
Kerry Washington, SCANDAL
Robin Wright, HOUSE OF CARDS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston, BREAKING BAD
Jeff Daniels, THE NEWSROOM
Jon Hamm, MAD MEN
Woody Harrelson, TRUE DETECTIVE
Matthew McConaughey, TRUE DETECTIVE
Kevin Spacey, HOUSE OF CARDS

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski, THE GOOD WIFE
Joanne Froggatt, DOWNTON ABBEY
Anna Gunn, BREAKING BAD
Lena Headey, GAME OF THRONES
Christina Hendricks, MAD MEN
Maggie Smith, DOWNTON ABBEY

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jim Carter, DOWNTON ABBEY
Josh Charles, THE GOOD WIFE
Peter Dinklage, GAME OF THRONES
Mandy Patinkin, HOMELAND
Aaron Paul, BREAKING BAD
Jon Voight, RAY DONOVAN

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
David Evans, DOWNTON ABBEY
Carl Franklin, HOUSE OF CARDS
Cary Joji Fukunaga, TRUE DETECTIVE
Vince Gilligan, BREAKING BAD
Neil Marshall, GAME OF THRONES
Tim Van Patten, BOARDWALK EMPIRE

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
BREAKING BAD (Vince Gilligan)
BREAKING BAD (Moira Walley-Beckett)
GAME OF THRONES (David Benioff & D. B. Weiss)
HOUSE OF CARDS (Beau Willimon)
TRUE DETECTIVE (Nic Pizzolatto)

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On the funny side of things, ABC’s Modern Family is seeking a fifth straight win in Outstanding Comedy Series, which would tie it with Frasier.

The family sitcom bagged ten mentions in all, including returning acting nods for former supporting winners Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.

Once again, it squares off against other renowned comedies including The Big Bang Theory, Veep and Netflix newcomer Orange is the New Black.

Having garnered wins for their performances last year, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) and Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) will be looking for repeat success in the Lead Actress/Actor categories, as will Supporting Actor victor Tony Hale (Veep).

Despite its dramatic aspects, Orange is the New Black competes in the comedy line-ups with actors Taylor Schilling, and Kate Mulgrew in contention for acting prizes.

The rest of the high-profile acting nominees include a mix of previous nominees including Lena Dunham (Girls), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Louis C.K. (Louie), and Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), and new contenders including Ricky Gervais (Derek), William H. Macy (Shameless), Allison Janney (Mom), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) and Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

The main list of comedy nominations are below (winner predictions in blue):

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
THE BIG BANG THEORY
LOUIE
MODERN FAMILY
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
SILICON VALLEY
VEEP

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Lena Dunham, GIRLS
Edie Falco, NURSE JACKIE
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, VEEP
Melissa McCarthy, MIKE & MOLLY
Amy Poehler, PARKS AND RECREATION
Taylor Schilling, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Louis C.K., LOUIE
Don Cheadle, HOUSE OF LIES
Ricky Gervais, DEREK
Matt LeBlanc, EPISODES
William H. Macy, SHAMELESS
Jim Parsons, THE BIG BANG THEORY

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik, THE BIG BANG THEORY
Julie Bowen, MODERN FAMILY
Anna Chlumsky, VEEP
Allison Janney, MOM
Kate McKinnon, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Kate Mulgrew, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Fred Armisen, PORTLANDIA
Andre Braugher, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
Ty Burrell, MODERN FAMILY
Adam Driver, GIRLS
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, MODERN FAMILY
Tony Hale, VEEP

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Paris Barclay, GLEE
Louis C.K., LOUIE
Jodie Foster, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Mike Judge, SILICON VALLEY
Iain B. MacDonald, EPISODES
Gail Mancuso, MODERN FAMILY

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
EPISODES (David Crane & Jeffrey Klarik)
LOUIE (Louis C.K.)
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Liz Friedman & Jenji Kohan)
SILICON VALLEY (Alec Berg)
VEEP (Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche)

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Finally, FX’s Fargo and American Horror Story: Coven are among the leading contenders battling it out in the miniseries categories after scoring a combined 35 nominations, including the coveted Outstanding Miniseries prize.

Fargo, which is based on the acclaimed 1996 film of the same name, also picked up multiple acting nods, including two for Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman (who is also acknowledged in Supporting Actor for Sherlock: His Last Vow) in Lead Actor.

Coven also delivered on the performers front with five mentions, including double Lead Actress nods for Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson and triple Supporting Actress noms for Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett and Frances Conroy.

Both Fargo and Coven compete in a versatile Miniseries line-up that features Bonnie & Clyde, Luther and The White Queen.

Meanwhile, the newly-reformed Outstanding Television Movie category is led by HBO’s AIDS-based film The Normal Heart with a hefty sixteen mentions, including six in acting for the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts and comedy contender Jim Parsons.

There is also strong British representation from the likes of Helena Bonham Carter (Burton & Taylor), Minnie Driver (Return to Zero), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: His Last Vow), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dancing on the Edge), Idris Elba (Luther), and Alfred Molina (The Normal Heart).

The main list of miniseries nominations are below (winner predictions in blue):

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
BONNIE & CLYDE
FARGO
LUTHER
TREME
THE WHITE QUEEN

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
KILLING KENNEDY
THE NORMAL HEART
MUHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT
SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Helena Bonham Carter, BURTON & TAYLOR
Minnie Driver, RETURN TO ZERO
Jessica Lange, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Sarah Paulson, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Cicely Tyson, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
Kristen Wiig, THE SPOILS OF BABYLON

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Benedict Cumberbatch, SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW
Chiwetel Ejiofor, DANCING ON THE EDGE
Idris Elba, LUTHER
Martin Freeman, FARGO
Mark Ruffalo, THE NORMAL HEART
Billy Bob Thornton, FARGO

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Angela Bassett, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Kathy Bates, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Ellen Burstyn, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC
Frances Conroy, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Julia Roberts, THE NORMAL HEART
Allison Tolman, FARGO

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Matt Bomer, THE NORMAL HEART
Martin Freeman, SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW
Colin Hanks, FARGO
Joe Mantello, THE NORMAL HEART
Alfred Molina, THE NORMAL HEART
Jim Parsons, THE NORMAL HEART

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Adam Bernstein, FARGO
Colin Bucksey, FARGO
Stephen Frears, MUHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Nick Hurran, SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW
Ryan Murphy, THE NORMAL HEART

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN (Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk)
FARGO (Noah Hawley)
LUTHER (Neil Cross)
THE NORMAL HEART (Larry Kramer)
SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW (Steven Moffat)
TREME (David Simon & Eric Overmyer)

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OUTSTANDING VARIETY SERIES
THE COLBERT REPORT
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!
REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
THE AMAZING RACE
DANCING WITH THE STARS
PROJECT RUNWAY
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
TOP CHEF
THE VOICE

As expected, a number of popular television performances were ignored by the Emmys including Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex), James Spader (The Blacklist), Sofía Vergara (Modern Family), and The Americans pair Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Seth Meyers at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday 25 August.

In the meantime, the rest of this year’s full list of nominations can be found in the following link: https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2014