Emmy nominations 2021 – live: The Crown, The Mandalorian and Mare of Easttown lead the awards

It’s anyone’s game in the absence of pandemic-affected hits like ‘Succession’, ‘Ozark’ and ‘Euphoria’

Kate Winslet, Evan Peters and Justin Hurtt-Dunkley in ‘Mare of Easttown' (HBO)

The 2021 Emmy nominations were announced today (13 July), with The Crown, Ted Lasso and Mare of Easttown dominating the categories as expected.

This year, the Emmys will highlight the best of what was an understandably abbreviated year in television, while almost all of last year’s major winners – among them Succession, Ozark and Euphoria – are out of contention due to the pandemic.

With those shows unable to produce and broadcast new episodes in time for the Emmy submission deadline, it means that this year’s nomination roster has been unusually led by first-timers. The Flight Attendant, Bridgerton and the Jean Smart comedy Hacks have picked up an abundance of nods.

Schitt’s Creek, which won almost all the comedy awards at last year’s ceremony, is also now over, opening up the comedy categories as a result. The likes of Ted Lasso, Pen15, The Kominsky Method and love-hate favourite Emily in Paris have filled the gap.

The nomination announcement was made by father-daughter duo, Ron Cephas Jones (This is Us) and Jasmine Cephas Jones (Hamilton and Blindspotting). Catch up on what you missed on our live blog below!

The Emmys, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, will take place on 19 September.

[13 July 2021 14:30 · Adam White]

Anya Taylor-Joy, of The Queen’s Gambit, could be a potential threat to Winslet, having won the Best Actress in a Limited Series awards at both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards earlier this year. But both of those award shows happened before the world had set their eyes on Mare of Easttown, meaning she’s not exactly a shoe-in anymore...

[13 July 2021 14:45 · Adam White]

With Schitt’s Creek, which dominated last year’s comedy categories, having come to an end, it leaves a void for a number of other comedy series to fill. While both Hacks and The Flight Attendant have received rapturous reviews, could Apple TV+’s sleeper hit Ted Lasso take home the Best Comedy prize? The heartwarming Jason Sudeikis vehicle has been a gentle smash during the pandemic, after all.

Jason Sudeikis in ‘Ted Lasso’ (Apple TV+)

[13 July 2021 15:00 · Adam White]

One category to look out for is Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Because of the dearth of acclaimed comedy series in recent years, it has become dominated by Saturday Night Live alumni, and there are rumblings that Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member of the sketch series, could be about to take home his first ever prize for it. He’s also in the frame to receive a Best Actor nod for his own sitcom, Kenan.

Ego Nwodim, Kenan Thompson, and Kate McKinnon on SNL (Twitter/NBCSNL)

[13 July 2021 15:15 · Adam White]

While The Undoing struggled to match the success of Nicole Kidman’s previous limited series Big Little Lies, it may score a nod for Best Actor in a Limited Series for star Hugh Grant. He’ll probably be up against a number of heavy-hitters, though, including WandaVision’s Paul Bettany and Bryan Cranston in Your Honour. Around three people watched Your Honour, but it’s Bryan Cranston so he’ll probably get in...

Hugh Grant, Noma Dumezweni and Nicole Kidman in Sky Atlantic’s ‘The Undoing’ (Sky Atlantic)

[13 July 2021 15:30 · Adam White]

Barry Jenkins’s The Underground Railroad was a stirring, gorgeously made masterpiece, which also seemed to disappear into the streaming void almost instantly when it premiered on Amazon Prime in May. The Emmys could, however, give it a bit of a cultural resurgence if it threw a handful of nominations its way. A Best Limited Series nod, along with a nomination for star Thuso Mbedu, wouldn’t go amiss.

Thuso Mbedu as Cora in ‘The Underground Railroad’ (Amazon)

[13 July 2021 15:45 · Adam White]

Tina Fey’s very silly and frothy comedy Girls5eva has yet to debut in the UK, but drew raves upon its debut earlier this year. Revolving around a Nineties girlband who reunite in their forties, it may pick up a nomination (and possible win) for Fey’s cameo as an apparition of Dolly Parton. Stars Renee Elise Goldsberry and Sarah Bareilles could also score nods in the Best Actress in a Comedy Series category...

Tina Fey as Dolly Parton in ‘Girls5eva’ (Peacock)

[13 July 2021 15:55 · Adam White]

While The Mandalorian only received a Best Drama nod at last year’s Emmys, there’s a chance it could secure a number of acting nominations in 2021. With guest spots by Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson and Timothy Olyphant all earning acclaim, they could make appearances in the Best Guest Star categories.

Series regular Giancarlo Esposito, who we spoke to last month, could also score a Best Supporting Actor nomination, too.

Esposito as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian (2019) (Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock)

[13 July 2021 16:10 · Annabel Nugent]

We’re less than half an hour away from hearing the nominations, which we’ll be covering as and when they are announced right here on the live blog – so stay tuned to see if your favourite has made the cut!

[13 July 2021 16:15 · Annabel Nugent]

Father-daughter duo Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) and Jasmine Cephas Jones (Hamilton and Blindspotting) will be unveiling the 2021 nominations.

Jasmine Cephas Jones stars in Blindspotting (Starz Play)

[13 July 2021 16:20 · Annabel Nugent]

The Crown failed to snag a major award last year despite receiving a handful of nods. Who knows? Maybe 2021 is the year Netflix’s hit period drama cleans up.

Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in ‘The Crown’ (Netflix)