EXTRAS, Ricky Gervais's follow-up to The Office, has earned itself five nominations at this year's British Comedy Awards, two of them for Ashley Jensen, the Scots actress.

The show, which stars Gervais and Jensen as frustrated bit-part actors who envy the Alist stars with whom they rub shoulders, has nominations for best comedy, new comedy, TV comedy actor, comedy actress, and comedy newcomer.

For the second year running, Gervais is up against David Walliams and Matt Lucas for the best TV comedy actor accolade. Last year, he and The Office were left in the shade by the comedy duo and their Little Britain series.

This time round, Extras, Little Britain and the Catherine Tate Show - all BBC comedy series - are competing for best TV comedy.

The nominations for Extras are as much a triumph for Jensen as they are for Gervais.

The Scot, who plays Maggie in Extras, has been shortlisted for best TV comedy actress with Catherine Tate and the Green Wing's Tamsin Greig. She is also up against Chris Addison (of BBC4's The Thick of It) and David Mitchell (of Channel 4's Peep Show) for the best TV comedy newcomer award.

Annan-born Jensen, 36, has previously worked at the National Theatre, appeared in a Mike Leigh film, and starred in BBC drama series Roughnecks and Central City.

Extras is up for Best New TV Comedy of 2005, against Help (BBC2) and The Thick of It.

Gervais's shows have now had a record 10 nominations, beating the previous nine held by Steve Coogan. Like The Office before it, Extras was created and written by Gervais and his professional partner Stephen Merchant.

Elsewhere, Simon Cowell might not find it funny but talent show The X Factor is up for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme, against Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Paul O'Grady will be hoping to beat both in the Best Comedy Entertainment Personality category.

Michael Hurll, the awards' executive producer and deviser, said: "This year's comedy output on television is probably the strongest ever in the 16 years of the awards."

The awards, hosted by Jonathan Ross, will be screened live on ITV1 on December 14 at 9pm.

THE NOMINEES

Best TV comedy actor Chris Langham - Help, The Thick of It; Matt Lucas and David Walliams - Little Britain;

Ricky Gervais - Extras

Best TV comedy actress

Ashley Jensen - Extras; Catherine Tate - The Catherine Tate Show; Tamsin Greig - Green Wing, Love Soup

Best TV comedy drama of 2005

Extras; Little Britain;

The Catherine Tate Show

Best TV Comedy Drama

Christmas Lights; Not Only But Always; Shameless

Best Comedy Entertainment Personality

Ant and Dec; Jonathan Ross; Paul O'Grady Newcomer David Mitchell;

Chris Addison; Ashley Jensen