Hollyoaks takes six at soap awards

May 4 2008

EastEnders pipped its closest rival Coronation Street to win the top prize of best soap at last night's British Soap Awards.

But it was Hollyoaks that led the way at the awards ceremony in London, scooping six gongs.

The Channel 4 drama claimed best actor and actress awards, as well as prizes for sexiest female, best exit and spectacular scene of the year award.

Best Actor Award went to Chris Fountain who plays Justin Burton, and Best Actress Award was collected by Emma Rigby who plays Hannah Ashworth.

Coronation Street weighed in with five awards, including a lifetime achievement for veteran star Liz Dawn, who first appeared in the soap in 1974 and bowed out this year when her character Vera Duckworth died of a heart attack.

Accepting her award, she said: “I wish I was young again, I could do it all over again. It’s only when you leave that you realise what a lovely life you’ve had. It’s been fantastic.”

She paid tribute to her co-star Bill Tarmey who played her husband Jack in the show.

“I won the Lottery when I got Bill,” she said. “We’ve worked so hard together and he’s a lovely man.”

Hollyoaks’ star Roxanne McKee, who won the sexiest female award, said the show was finally getting the recognition it deserved.

“This year we have tackled anorexia, incest and I have been in a murder case. We tackle those issues in a 6.30pm slot which is very hard for the writers who do a brilliant job.”

Another young star who picked up an award was EastEnders Jamie Borthwick who plays Jay Brown in the show.

He dedicated his award - for best dramatic performance from a young actor - to his nan, Sylvia, who died several years ago.

He said: “She was an absolute gem and I miss her so much. Wherever she is I hope she’s proud of me.”

BBC1’s EastEnders won four awards on the night including Best British Soap, which was presented by Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas. The soap also won the award for Best Storyline for Max and Stacey’s affair.

Entries from the five biggest soaps - Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - were eligible for the awards which were hosted at BBC Television Centre, London, by This Morning presenters Fern Britton and Philip Schofield.

The British Soap Awards will be shown on ITV1 on Wednesday, May 7 at 8pm.

EastEnders’ actress Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell, said: “We actually came third in the number of awards and we’re going to have to up our game. Hollyoaks is coming up and we will have to do better next year.”

She paid tribute to the crew and the soap’s young actors who she said gave it a new lease of life.

She said: “They’re brilliant. Jack Borthwick is amazing and he will only get better as he gets older. It’s wonderful to have someone like that on the set.”

Ms Windsor also paid tribute to “amazing” June Brown who has played Dot Cotton in the soap for more than 20 years.

“As I get older I realise just how good she is. She can look at a script and read it two or three times and then just take it from there. Just like Corrie love Liz Dawn, we all love June,” she said.