Sequins, short frocks and an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Yes, it's the soap awards

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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The starlets of British soap operas turned out for their big night yesterday, showing plenty of flesh in their annual parade of short, sequinned dresses.

And, of course, there was inevitably the actress who exposed just a little too much.

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Emmerdale's Roxanne Pallett had a slight wardrobe malfunction and needed help from co-star Verity Rushworth to keep her dress on

Emmerdale's Roxanne Pallett had a slight wardrobe malfunction and needed help from co-star Verity Rushworth to keep her dress on

Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallet nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet for the British Soap Awards when one of the straps on her halterneck dress came loose.

Luckily, her co-star Verity Rushworth was on hand to spare the actress, who plays Jo Stiles, from too much embarrassment.

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Hollyoaks babe Jennifer Metcalfe shimmered down the purple carpet while ex-Hollyoaks star Sarah-Jayne Dunn looked stunning in black

Hollyoaks babe Jennifer Metcalfe shimmered down the purple carpet while ex-Hollyoaks star Sarah-Jayne Dunn looked stunning in black

Eastenders' Samantha Janus sizzled in a black gown slashed to the navel

As for the awards themselves – almost a sideshow compared to the daring fashions on show – it was Channel 4's sexy youth soap Hollyoaks that took most of the spoils.

The programme scooped six prizes, including best actor for Chris Fountain, who plays Justin Burton, and best actress for Emma Rigby, who plays Hannah Ashworth.

Less surprisingly, the show took the prize for sexiest female, courtesy of Roxanne McKee, who plays Louise Summers.

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Emma Rigby was celebrating after winning best actress

Emma Rigby was celebrating after winning best actress

Newly single Kym Marsh wore a daring banana-coloured frock while Coronation Street co-star Vicky Binns opted for floor-length purple

Newly single Kym Marsh wore a daring banana-coloured frock while Coronation Street co-star Vicky Binns opted for floor-length purple

Patsy Palmer and Claire Bissix were competitors in the glamour stakes for Eastenders

Patsy Palmer and Claire Bissix were competitors in the glamour stakes for Eastenders

Hollyoaks scooped more awards than either EastEnders, which claimed four, or Coronation Street, with five.

But despite the disappointing tally, BBC 1's flagship programme did claim the most prestigious prize of the night, for best soap.

And it performed considerably better than last year, when it collected just one award.

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Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan shone as best newcomer while sexiest female-winner Roxanne McKee glimmered in gold sequins

Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan shone as best newcomer while sexiest female-winner Roxanne McKee glimmered in gold sequins

Corrie's Jack P Shepherd and Eastenders' Jamie Borthwick stood out in shiny and pin-stripe suits

Corrie's Jack P Shepherd and Eastenders' Jamie Borthwick stood out in shiny and pin-stripe suits

Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning, won best dramatic performance and Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown, took the award for best dramatic performance from a young actor.

The show also won best storyline, for Max and Stacey's affair.

EastEnders has been reinvigorated over the past 12 months, and in January featured the first ever episode to concentrate entirely on a single character, when Dot Branning, played by June Brown, recorded a personal message for her husband Jim, played by John Bardon, who was in hospital with a stroke.

And last month saw the return of Ricky Butcher, played by Sid Owen, and Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer, after nine years.

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Lacey Turner and Emma Rigby grabbed attention with an off-the-shoulder number and barely-there white dress

Lacey Turner and Emma Rigby grabbed attention with an off-the-shoulder number and barely-there white dress

Barbara Windsor headed the grinning Eastenders cast celebrating their best soap win

Barbara Windsor headed the grinning Eastenders cast celebrating their best soap win

Coronation Street's award haul included best newcomer for Michelle Keegan, who plays Tina McIntrye, and Best Comedy Performance for Maggie Jones as Blanche Hunt.

Rob James Collier, who plays Liam Connor, was named Sexiest Male, and Jack P. Shepherd, who plays David Platt, was Best Villain.

There was also a lifetime achievement Award for Liz Dawn, whose character Vera Duckworth was killed off in January after 34 years on the Street.

Emmerdale won two awards: for best single episode, and a special award for one of its producers, Tim Fee.

Party bound: The Hollyoaks girls head to the awards dressed up to the nines

Party bound: The Hollyoaks girls head to the awards dressed up to the nines

The full list of winner is as follows:

Best British Soap: EastEnders

Best Actor: Chris Fountain (Justin Burton) - Hollyoaks

Best Actress: Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth) - Hollyoaks.

Sexiest Male: Rob James Collier (Liam Connor) - Coronation Street

Sexiest Female: Roxanne McKee (Louise Summers) - Hollyoaks

Best Newcomer: Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) - Coronation Street

Best Dramatic Performance: Jo Joyner (Tanya Branning) - EastEnders

Best Dramatic Performance from a young actor or actress: Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown) - EastEnders

Best Comedy Performance: Maggie Jones (Blanche Hunt) - Coronation Street

Villain of the Year: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) - Coronation Street.

Best On-screen Partnership: Matt Littler (Max Cunningham) and Darren Jon Jeffries (Sam O'Brien) - Hollyoaks.

Best Storyline: Max Branning and Stacey Slater's affair - EastEnders.

Best Exit Award: Gemma Bissix (Clare Cunningham) - Hollyoaks

Special Achievement Award: Emmerdale line producer Tim Fee

Spectacular Scene of the Year Award: The car going off a cliff - Hollyoaks

Best Single Episode Award: Daniel's death in Emmerdale

Lifetime Achievement Award: Liz Dawn from Coronation Street

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