The new online series, in which Steve Coogan resurrects his popular radio DJ character Alan Partridge, has been nominated for a South Bank award.

Alan Partridge's Mid-Morning Matters, sponsored by Foster's lager, has been nominated ahead of many traditional TV sitcoms in the comedy category.

The show will compete against BBC Four comedy drama Getting On, written by and starring Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan and directed by Peter Capaldi, and BBC Two's critically acclaimed new sitcom Rev, which stars Tom Hollander as a vicar promoted from a sleepy rural parish to an inner-city church in a troubled area of London.

Meanwhile in the TV category, E4's hit comedy drama Misfits, goes up against BBC detective drama Sherlock and Channel 4's hard hitting drama This is England 86.

Coogan's new 12-part Alan Partridge series, which is produced by Armando Iannucci and also stars Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Tim Key, sees the hapless radio DJ broadcasting on 'North Norfolk Digital', a backwater radio station.

Watch 'Alan Partridge Mid Morning Matters

It is the first time that a series only available online has been nominated for a South Bank prize. The annual awards, which were previously affiliated to ITV's now axed arts programme The South Bank Show, will air on the Sky Arts channel. Host Melvyn Bragg will present the awards at London's Dorchester hotel on Tuesday 25th January 2011. Other categories include awards for visual art, theatre, opera, dance, classical music, pop, literature and film.

"The shortlist demonstrates the extraordinary wealth of achievement across the arts in the UK," comments Lord Bragg. "It is fantastic to see the arts flourishing - and there has certainly never been a more important moment to celebrate the breadth and range of talent across the country. We are delighted that we can continue to honour the dedication of these artists."