'EastEnders' named Best Soap at awards

EastEnders has taken the prize for Best Soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the ninth year running, despite poor ratings in relation to ITV rival Coronation Street.

The BBC show took seven awards compared to Coronation Street's six. Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman) took the awards for Best Actor and Sexiest Male, and Tracy Ann-Oberman (Chrissie Watts) won the gong for Best Dressed Soap Star.

This year's Best Couple prize went to EastEnders' June Brown and John Bardon for their portrayal of Dot and Jim Branning, whilst Letitia Dean (Sharon) was presented with the award for Outstanding Achievement. Finally, the soap was deemed to have the Best Storyline in the form of Den's murder.

Meanwhile, Corrie's Sally Lindsay claimed the Best Actress award and Bill Ward, who plays her jilted fiance Charlie Stubbs, took the Best Bad Boy prize. Antony Cotton took the gongs for both Best Newcomer and Funniest Performance for his work as Sean Tully.

The award for Sexiest Female went to Samia Smith (Maria Sutherland), whilst Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow) landed the Best Bitch prize.

Emmerdale was not sent away empty handed. The soap's Dingles took the award for Best Family and Charley Webb (Debbie Dingle) was named Best Young Actor.