MNet’s Jacob’s Cross has received four nominations at the prestigious Monte-Carlo Television Festival for the following categories: Best International TV Series, Outstanding International Producer, Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress. The Monte-Carlo Television Festival, which will be held on June 6-10 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, has been awarding exceptional television programs across the globe since the 1960s.

Jacob from Billboard

Jacob’s Cross is the only show on the entire continent nominated and it will be competing against some of the best shows in the world including Lost, Dexter, Mad Men, Downton Abbey and The Tudors.

Created by Bomb! Productions, Jacob’s Cross is an M-Net drama series about powerful oil magnates battling for Africa’s rich off-shore oil. Set in both South Africa and Nigeria, the story centers around business man Jacob Makhubu Abayomi and his quest to build the next great African empire. Now in its fourth season it is the most popular show across the continent and has a cult following particularly amongst Africans in the diaspora.

2011 is without a doubt an incredibly successful year for the series as these nominations come just a month after the show was awarded a Creative Achievement Award at The Pan African Film Festival’s annual Night of Tribute held in Los Angeles.

“It’s fantastic, we’re very excited about it,” says executive producer Desiree Markgraaff who is nominated in the Outstanding International Producer category. “The thing about these nominations is that we are in very good company. We’re up against shows like Lost, Downton Abbey and Mad Men. I mean they’re such fantastic big shows, so we’re very excited.”