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EastEnders triumphs at Inside Soap Awards
Last updated at 13:32pm on 29.09.09EastEnders took home top honours at the Inside Soap Awards, as well as a fourth consecutive Best Actress win for Lacey Turner.
The Walford soap beat Coronation Street by collecting seven of the 14 gongs, including Best Soap, to rival Corrie's haul of five awards.
Best Actress: Lacey Turner for EastEnders
Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks won one award, with the Best Family title going to The McQueens, while Emmerdale went away empty-handed.
ITV police show The Bill collected the award for Best Drama for the fourth year running.
More pictures: On the red carpet at the Inside Soap Awards
Best Actor went to Coronation Street's Gray O'Brien, for his portrayal of twisted Tony Gordon, whose antics have included ordering the killing of his love rival, Liam Connor.
EastEnders' John Partridge, who plays openly gay Christian Clarke, was named Sexiest Male, while Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street's feisty Tina McIntyre) triumphed in the Sexiest Female category.
Sexiest Female: Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan
Best Bad Boy was taken by EastEnders' Larry Lamb for his role as scheming Archie Mitchell, who constructed a web of lies to keep his daughter Ronnie (Samantha Womack) from knowing she was the mother of Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace).
The gripping tale of Archie's torment and Danielle's death scooped the Best Storyline award.
Best Bitch was picked up by Charlie Brooks (EastEnders' Janine Butcher), who has won the award twice before.
Coronation Street's Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor) collected the award for Best Newcomer, after winning in the same category at the British Soap Awards in May.
Soap star: Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine
Steven Murphy, editor of Inside Soap magazine, said: "This was one of the most hotly contested years for the Inside Soap Awards.
"Many categories were neck and neck until voting closed, which just proves what an outstanding year it's been in soapland.
"It was Inside Soap's biggest and best party ever and it's wonderful to see so many new names on the winners' list."
Collecting the award for Best Soap along with his co-stars, Charlie G Hawkins (Darren Miller) said the EastEnders cast had put in a lot of "hard graft".
He added: "We've had highs and lows but as long as we keep doing good and keep the fans happy they keep watching."
Best Actress winner Lacey Turner said: "It really means a lot to me. Thank you very much from everyone from EastEnders for this opportunity and for all the help and support."
Giving his acceptance speech in a pre-recorded video, Best Actor Gray O'Brien said it was "quite a shock" to win.
He added: "I'm touched and honoured. I didn't know any of you watched it."
Collecting his award for Best Newcomer, Coronation Street actor Craig Gazey made a dig at rival soap Emmerdale, which went away empty-handed.
He joked that fellow nominee Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) had asked for help with his acceptance speech.
Gazey added: "Only joking. I'm sure Emmerdale has won lots of others. Sorry guys."
TV presenter George Lamb handed out the award for Best Bad Boy to his father Larry.
Accepting it, the actor said: "I've never won a television award before. It's truly exciting and I do appreciate it."
More pictures: On the red carpet at the Inside Soap Awards
Video highlights from the Inside Soap Awards
Reader views (5)
Tour de force Lacey Turner! What a great performance on last Friday's East Enders.
- Nikki, London
Not unusual for a soaps magazine to run the Soap awards. Not unusual either if a mag called Pompous ran their own awards. Sure there'd be Miles queuing up around the block for the trophy.
- L. Pooter, London
They give awards to soaps?! What drivel
- Miles, London, England
Congrats to Lacey Turner. She really deserves Best Actress award. With bells on. By her acting ability and skills she's shown that she can handle any writing scripts that comes her way. Her characterisation of Stacey is one of the most poignant and fully rounded portrayals on ongoing television dramas. Her skills are matched by the high levels of social reality plotlines she's been given and often she carries whole episodes. I'm sometimes amazed at the levels of maturity that she displays when taking on really tough and difficult and issues.
- Carrie, London
Lacey Turner is a brilliant actress, and the most beautiful women on British television.
- Ben S, London
