EastEnders and Corrie share the honours at soap awards

The Albert Square show took the coveted Best British Soap prize at the weekend’s glitzy bash, but Corrie seized the award for Best Single Episode for Becky’s Final Farewell.

Katherine Kelly, who played Becky McDonald until she left the cobbles earlier this year, also took the award for Best Exit.

The actress, who went on to triumph with a starring role in She Stoops To Conquer at the National Theatre, said: “I’ve just come along this evening to say hello to all my Corrie colleagues, thank you to the Soap Awards for this, thank you to the nation for watching, and goodbye.”

Alison King, Coronation Street’s Carla Connor, took the Best Actress award for her portrayal of the factory owner raped by her fiancé.

Best Actor went to Emmerdale’s Danny Miller for the second year in a row, for his portrayal of Aaron Livesy who reluctantly helped his partner, Jackson, to die.

EastEnders and Coronation Street also shared the awards for sexiest stars, with EastEnders’ Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) and Corrie’s Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) taking home the trophies for the fourth year running.

EastEnders’ Jo Joyner and Jake Wood were presented with the Best On-Screen Partnership award for their portrayal of Albert Square’s on-off couple Max Branning and Tanya Jessop.

Joyner also picked up the best dramatic performance award for her depiction of Tanya’s battle with cervical cancer

Emmerdale’s Jackson’s Choice was named best storyline and the ITV1 soap took a third award for spectacular scene of the year for John and Moira’s Car Accident.

Actor Andrew Lancel was Villain of the Year, while Pam St Clement, who played EastEnders’ stalwart Pat Butcher for 25 years, was given the lifetime achievement award.