EastEnders wins top prize at British Soap Awards

EastEnders has won the top prize at the British Soap Awards after being named best British soap.

The BBC One show claimed seven awards in total, the same number as ITV1 rival Coronation Street.

Emmerdale took three prizes including most spectacular scene of the year.

Alison King, Coronation Street's Carla Connor, took the best actress award for playing a factory owner raped by her fiance. "It's been hard but it's been a great year," she said.

"It's been really emotional, I got a lot of letters from people who could relate to the story."

In pictures: Stars turn out for British soap awards

Katherine Kelly, who played Becky McDonald in Coronation Street, took the award for best exit.

Her departure for Barbados was also named best single episode.

For the second year in a row, best actor went to Emmerdale's Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Livesy.

Alfie 'much sexier'

EastEnders and Coronation Street 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.

Scott said someone else deserved the prize: "There are many sexy men out there and they deserve recognition.

"Shane Richie (EastEnders' Alfie Moon) is much sexier than me."

Pam St Clement, who played Pat Butcher in EastEnders for 25 years, earned a standing ovation when she was given the lifetime achievement award.

The awards will be shown on ITV1 on Wednesday 2 May at 8pm.

Full list of winners:

• Sexiest male - EastEnders: Scott Maslen (Jack Branning)

• Sexiest female - Coronation Street: Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre)

• Villain of the year - Coronation Street: Andrew Lancel (Frank Foster)

• Best actor - Emmerdale: Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy)

• Best actress - Coronation Street: Alison King (Carla Connor)

• Best comedy performance - Coronation Street: Stephanie Cole (Sylvia Goodwin)

• Best young performance - EastEnders: Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi Branning)

• Spectacular scene of the year - Emmerdale: John & Moira's car accident

• Best on-screen partnership - EastEnders: Jake Wood and Jo Joyner (Max Branning and Tanya Jessop)

• Best newcomer - Coronation Street: Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames)

• Best exit - Coronation Street: Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald)

• Best dramatic performance - EastEnders: Jo Joyner (Tanya Jessop)

• Best storyline - Emmerdale: Jackson's choice

• Best single episode - Coronation Street: Becky's Final Farewell

• Lifetime achievement award - EastEnders: Pam St Clement

• Special achievement award - EastEnders: Simon Ashdown, series consultant writer

• Best British soap - EastEnders