The Sopranos looks set to go out with a bang at the Emmy Awards after the mob series led the field for the US television ceremony with 15 nominations.

The HBO series, which won the Emmy for best drama in 2004 and ended its six-season run last month, would be the first drama to win the top prize after ending its prime-time run.

It will compete for US television’s highest honours against the superhuman thriller series Heroes, the medical dramas Grey’s Anatomy and House, as well as the courtroom drama Boston Legal.

Hugh Laurie, now a major star in the US for his downbeat doctor in House, will battle the Sopranos actor James Gandolfini for the best actor in a drama prize. Action star Kiefer Sutherland is also a contender for 24.

Workplace shows dominated the contest for best comedy series, with last year’s winner, the American Office, joining fellow NBC sitcom 30 Rock and ABC’s Ugly Betty. Two and a Half Men and Hollywood satire Entourage rounded out the comedy category.

Ricky Gervais will compete against his own creation in the comedy actor category. He is nominated for Extras, a collaboration between the BBC and HBO against Steve Carell, who plays the David Brent role in the NBC adaptation of The Office.

Hopes for British success lie once again with Dame Helen Mirren, on this occasion recognised for her role in the final Prime Suspect serial.

Minnie Driver receives a best actress nod for her role in The Riches, an FX series about a family of con artists. Eddie Izzard plays Driver’s husband in the show.

Jim Broadbent faces stiff competition from Robert Duvall for the best actor in a mini-series or TV film category. The British actor is recognised for his role as Lord Longford in Channel 4’s drama.

Ugly Betty, the Disney series the about a perky office assistant at a high-fashion magazine, was the breakthrough comedy of last year earning a total of 11 nomination.

The two most nominated programs overall were westerns - the HBO film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee with 17 nods, followed by the AMC miniseries Broken Trail with 16.

“There’s a lot of fresh faces this year, and that’s especially true in the new comedy series,” said Dick Askin, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which presents the Emmys. The 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on September 16.

Full list of nominees for the 59th annual Emmy awards

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