Coronation Street has emerged victorious from this year’s Inside Soap Awards, coming away with a whopping seven trophies.
The ITV soap even won the coveted Best Soap accolade at the awards, while Sally Carman, best known for playing Abi Webster, won the award for Best Actress and David Neilson (Roy Cropper) won Best Actor.
David Neilson wasn’t finished picking up his awards with Best Actor when he was also recognised for the Best Partnership category, alongside Mollie Gallagher who plays his niece Nina Lucas on the cobbles.
Jude Riordan, aged just 10, was given the Best Newcomer award for his emotional portrayal of youngster Sam Blakeman, while Dame Maureen Lipman was awarded Funniest Performance.
Finally, the Best Storyline trophy went to Nina and Seb’s hate crime horror, which bosses and stars worked closely with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation to produce.
Coronation Street has had its fair share of incredible storylines this year, from the hate crime attack which killed Abi’s son Seb Franklin to the numerous tragedies inspired by the sinkhole collapse.
(Image: Inside Soap)
Speaking about the awards, Inside Soap editor Gary Gillatt said: “The 36th annual Inside Soap Awards are dominated not so much by one soap as a single storyline: the hate crime attack on Coronation Street’s Seb and Nina, and the ripple effect it had on their families and community.
“It’s the kind of intimate story – taking us close to an all-too-real tragedy – that packs a punch, delivered by the most talented and popular actors working in Britain today.”
Speaking of her win, Sally Carman gushed: “This is ace. I’m just so happy to be getting these storylines – and to be recognised for doing a good job is the best feeling.
“The writing of the storyline was so beautiful, so it was an honour to be asked to deliver those words. The great thing about Corrie is that it feels like a different job one month to the next.
(Image: Inside Soap)
“One minute I’m filming in Kevin’s house, the next I’m in a film studio submerged in a sinkhole with a gun in my hand. Then I’m doing a scene with Dame Maureen Lipman. It’s just phenomenal to be paid to do this – so awards are a bonus!”
While David Neilson added of his own accolades: “It’s lovely for me and Mollie that idiosyncratic characters such as Roy and Nina appeal so much to viewers. They can be seen as eccentric, but they are valued and loved – and that’s wonderful.”
And Dame Maureen Lipman said: “It’s wonderful to be funny in this day and age – and I’m as pleased as if I was 19.
“To come in at 75 years old and be named Best Newcomer in 2019 and now the funniest person in soap – it’s really, really nice.
“I think people wish they could say the sort of things Evelyn says, because most of us spend our lives holding our tongues!”
(Image: Inside Soap)
ITV rival soap Emmerdale managed to score two Inside Soap accolades, coming away with the Best Family award for the Dingles and Best Villain for Paige Sandhu’s portrayal of serial killer Meena Jutla.
Paige said of her win: “I’m glad the audience approve of Meena’s villainousness, and she’s taken the crown.
“Playing a villain is so much fun, and Meena’s so unpredictable – I love it! I don’t mind being called ‘Best Villain’ because, to be fair, Meena is awful!
“Every time I open my new script, I’m like, ‘She does WHAT?’ The writing team always shock me with what they’ve got in store next.”
But it’s not all doom and gloom, as the Feel Good Moment of the Year went to Ben and Callum’s wedding in EastEnders.
Max Bowden, known for playing Ben Mitchell, said: “In a year that’s been so utterly atrocious for so many people, it’s nice to be accredited for something positive. And the wedding episode was certainly one that we put so much into.
“That was the first cohort that Tony and I have been a part of, and it gave us a chance to really act again together. It was lovely.”
Australian soaps also scored some big wins, with Channel 5 show Neighbours being named the Best Daytime Soap and April Rose Pengilly, who plays Chloe Brennan in Ramsay Street, coming away with the Best Daytime Star award.
Best Drama Star, meanwhile, went to Rosie Marcel, who plays Jac Naylor in BBC hospital soap Holby City.
The Inside Soap Awards were announced in today’s issue of Inside Soap magazine, on sale from today.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
