Hollyoaks cleans up in soap awards

May 5 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Hollyoaks' Emma Rigby with the Best Actress award at the British Soap Awards 2008 at BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London.

CHESTER-SET Hollyoaks scooped several of the top awards at the British Soap Awards, with St Helens actress Emma Rigby among those honoured.

On the night, EastEnders pipped its closest rival Coronation Street to win the top prize of best soap but it was Hollyoaks, filmed in Liverpool, that led the way at the awards ceremony in London, scooping six of the 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.

She had taken part in the groundbreaking storyline which tackles the deadly consequences of anorexia – the first time a British soap had tackled the subject.

At the awards, Coronation Street weighed in with five wins, 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.”

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