Benedict Cumberbatch is in the running to be named Celebrity Dad of the Year 2016.
The ‘Sherlock’ actor – who has 10-month-old son Christopher with his partner Sophie Hunter – will compete against singer-and-actor Jason Donovan, ‘Top Gear’ presenter and father-of-three Chris Evans, former ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ star Elliott Wright, extreme TV adventurer Bear Grylls and Take That star Gary Barlow – who has three children with his wife Dawn.
Other nominees are father-of-three Peter Andre, England and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and new parent Louis Tomlinson.
The One Direction singer welcomed his first son Freddie into the world last January with stylist Briana Jungwirth and has been "learning quickly" how to become a "better dad".
His own grandfather Len recently said: "He’s learning very quickly to be a dad. I mean Louis wants to be a great dad and he is a great dad and will be a better dad. But it’s all a new learning curve for him.
McFly star Tom Fletcher is also on the shortlist and if the 30-year-old musician is victorious it will mean he and his wife Giovanna Fletcher – with whom he has three-month-old son Buddy and two-year-old boy Buzz – will hold the awards concurrently as Giovanna was crowned Celebrity Mum of the Year earlier in 2016.
Ross Matthews, Chief Marketing Officer for icelolly.com who are sponsoring the award, commented: "Celebrity Dad of the Year is always a hotly contested award and this year looks like being no exception. Obviously veterans Peter Andre and last year’s winner Gary Barlow will be clear favourites, but Leicester City’s triumph in the Premier League has shown that the underdog can triumph so it wouldn’t surprise me to see an outsider taking the crown this year."
The general public can vote for their winner by going to www.icelolly.com/celebrity-dad-of-the-year and picking their favourite famous father.
The icelolly.com Celebrity Dad of the Year shortlist:
Peter Andre
Gary Barlow
Benedict Cumberbatch
Jason Donovan
Chris Evans
Tom Fletcher
Bear Grylls
Louis Tomlinson
Elliott Wright
Jamie Vardy