EastEnders edges out Corrie in soap awards

Corrie stars outraged as EastEnders pips it to best soap award.

10:53 28 September 2004

Plummeting ratings and cyber-sex scandals in the press have not stopped EastEnders from securing a narrow victory over Coronation Street at the Inside Soap awards.

While the perceived bad run of form has seen the Albert Square soap part company with producer Louise Berridge, as well as not even making the shortlist for the Bafta soap award (won by Corrie), readers of Inside Soap have voted EastEnders as the best soap of the year.

The victory was narrow, however, with both programmes picking up six awards overall - but two per cent more readers preferred Walford to Weatherfield in the one that mattered.

This is the fourth year in a row that EastEnders won best soap prize, leaving certain Corrie castmembers less than impressed.

Andrew Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland on the Street, commented: "No disrespect to EastEnders, I don't watch it myself, but if they have lost so many viewers I can't understand why it won.

"We've been brilliant this year and we deserved to win."

Suranne Jones, who plays the formerly feisty Karen McDonald, was equally outraged.

"We've had some great storylines and we've really tried hard," she said.

"We are right up there at the moment and I'm really surprised at the result."

Kate Ford, who plays Karen's arch-enemy Tracy Barlow, added to the furore.

"We've worked very hard this year and I think everybody who has watched the soaps knows that."

Ford, Jones and Whyment picked up three of the six awards won by Corrie - Jones for sexiest female, Ford as part of the best plot and Whyment for funniest character. The other awards on their way to Weatherfield are best young actor (Sam Aston), best snog (Karl and Todd) and the outstanding achievement award (Sue Nicholls).

But EastEnders' success was not universally shunned, with the editor of Inside Soap saying this victory demonstrated the strength of British soaps.

"This year the contest was tougher than ever, proving that British soaps are going from strength to strength with each passing year," said Steven Murphy.

Last week EastEnders saw its viewing figures drop to 6.2 million, one of the lowest in the programme's history.

The winners in full:
Best Soap - EastEnders
Best Actor - Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman, EastEnders)
Best Actress - June Brown (Dot Branning, EastEnders)
Best Young Actor - Sam Aston (Chesney Brown, Coronation Street)
Best Bad Guy - Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)
Best Bitch - Charlie Brooks (Janine Evans, EastEnders)
Best Couple - Kat and Alfie Moon (Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie, EastEnders)
Funniest Character - Andrew Whyment (Kirk Sutherland, Coronation Street)
Best Newcomer - Sam Aston (Chesney Brown, Coronation Street)
Sexiest Female - Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald, Coronation Street)
Sexiest Male - Nigel Harman (Dennis Richman, EastEnders)
Best Storyline - Tracy Barlow/Steve McDonald baby secret (Coronation Street)
Best Drama - The Bill
Outstanding Achievement Award - Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts, Coronation Street)
Best Snog - Todd and Karl (Coronation Street)