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Inside Soap Awards

EastEnders star Lacey Turner is battling it out to be named Best Actress for the fourth year running at the Inside Soap Awards after the shortlist was announced.

Turner, who plays troubled Stacey Slater in the BBC One soap, is nominated alongside fellow Walford actress Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), Coronation Street's Katherine Kelly (Becky Granger) and Hollyoaks star Emma Rigby (Hannah Ashworth).

Overall, EastEnders leads the nominations with 19 nods, closely followed by Coronation Street's 17.

Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks has 10 nominations, while Emmerdale has pulled in just five nods on the shortlist, compiled from soap fans' votes.

In the running for Best Actor are Coronation Street stars Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) and Gray O'Brien (Tony Gordon), EastEnder Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) and former Hollyoaks star Chris Fountain (Justin Burton).

O'Brien has also landed a nod in the Best Bad Boy category, alongside Larry Lamb (EastEnders' Archie Mitchell), Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale's Cain Dingle) and former Hollyoaks actor Barry Sloane (Niall Rafferty).

Maslen is also nominated for Sexiest Male, alongside John Partridge (EastEnders' Christian Clarke), Ricky Whittle (Hollyoaks' Calvin Valentine) and Ryan Thomas (Coronation Street's Jason Grimshaw).

The title of Sexiest Female is between Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street's Tina McIntyre), last year's winner Kara Tointon (EastEnders' Dawn Swann), Samantha Womack (EastEnders' Ronnie Mitchell) and Emmerdale's Sammy Winward (Katie Sugden).

Coronation Street star Alison King (Carla Gordon) will be hoping to win Best Bitch for the second year running.

Other categories include Best Newcomer, Best Young Actor, Best Family, Funniest Performance, Best Storyline, Best Drama and Best-Dressed Soap Star.

Steven Murphy, editor of Inside Soap magazine, said: “This year's awards are going to be more exciting than ever and a closely fought battle in every category.”

The winners will be revealed at the 14th awards on Monday.

waveguide.co.uk

Row Over Soap Awards

A war seems to have broken out between Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders after a row at Monday night's Inside Soap Awards. Emmerdale stars were said to be "furious" after the soap failed to win any awards.

EastEnders won a "boot-load" of trophies at the star-studded bash including the coveted Best Soap accolade.

Brooke Vincent, who plays Coronation Street's Sophie Webster, told the Daily Star: "It's a complete fix. I can't believe they've won again."

Emmerdale actor Nick Miles said that it was an "insult" that the Yorkshire soap was not even shortlisted for many awards.

He said: "Once again not one Emmerdale Best Actor/ Actress nomination and once again I can't help feeling insulted on behalf of my mates.

"We're never on the cover [of the magazine] and rarely on the shortlist in major categories.

"It's known as the Walford Gazette round here.

"After six years, enough is enough."

Katherine Kelly, who plays Becky McDonald, said: "[EastEnders] may have won loads of awards but all I'll say is look at the viewing figures.

"We're the real winners."

waveguide.co.uk