Corrie triumphs at 2005 soap awards

Coronation Street fought off stiff competition from rival soap EastEnders on Saturday night to win the coveted best soap title at the British Soap Awa

10:19 08 May 2005

Coronation Street emerged victorious as they went head-to-head with rival soap EastEnders on Saturday night to win the coveted best soap title at the British Soap Awards.

The Street also won seven other awards, including best bitch for Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), best villain for Sasha Behar (Maya Sharma), best actress for Suranne Jones (Karen MacDonald) and best young actor for Sam Aston (Chesney Brown).

Emmerdale scooped one award for best single episode: Charity and Tom's wedding.

For the most part, the ceremony, hosted by Paul O'Grady, was dominated by the two main soaps, although Jodi Albert from Hollyoaks won sexiest female.

June Brown, who plays EastEnders pensioner Dot Cotton, received a special lifetime achievement award that was presented by Barbara Windsor (alias Peggy Mitchell) and original cast member Anna Wing (Lou Beale).

Other triumphs for the EastEnders cast included the award for sexiest actor going to Walford's Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman). Shane Ritchie won best actor for his role as cockney trader Alfie Moon and Charlie Brooks (Janine Evans) won the award for best exit.

Fans can watch the award ceremony on Wednesday at 8pm on ITV1.

2005 British Soap awards:

Sexiest Male - Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman - EastEnders)
Sexiest Female - Jodi Albert (Debbie Dean - Hollyoaks)
Best Comedy Performance - Maggie Jones (Blanche Hunt - Coronation Street)
Best Newcomer - Andrea Green (Sarah Finch - Doctors)
Spectacular Scene of the Year - Maya blows up Dev's shops and takes Dev and Sunita hostage (Coronation Street)
Soap Bitch of the Year - Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow - Coronation Street)
Best Onscreen Partnership - June Brown and John Bardon (Dot and Jim Branning - EastEnders)
Special Achievement Award for Creative Contribution to British Soap - John Stephenson (Coronation Street writer)
Best Exit - Charlie Brooks (Janine Evans - EastEnders)
Best Single Episode - Charity and Tom's wedding (Emmerdale)
Villain of the Year - Sasha Behar (Maya Sharma - Coronation Street)
Best Dramatic Performance - Kazia Pelka (Chrissy Costello - Family Affairs)
Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress - Sam Aston (Chesney Brown - Coronation Street)
Best Storyline - Gary and Chrissy learn that family friend Bradley has been abusing their daughter Chloe (Family Affairs)
Lifetime Achievement Award - June Brown (Dot Branning - EastEnders)
Best Actor - Shane Richie (Alfie Moon - EastEnders)
Best Actress - Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald - Coronation Street)
Best British Soap - Coronation Street