Inside Soap Awards 2011: EastEnders is the big winner with the Square's young ladies leading the red carpet glamour as the soap scoops five awards

By Georgina Littlejohn


From the gloom of the Square to the glamour of the red carpet: EastEnders stars Jacqueline Jossa, Shona McGarty and Danielle Harold looked every inch the TV
starlets as they posed with one of the soap's five awards at the Inside Soap Awards


With a lot of young talent in both soaps it's always going to be a red carpet glamour battle between the lasses of Coronation Street and the EastEnders girls when a red carpet beckons.

But tonight, as their soap scooped five awards, it was the Londoners that caused the flashbulb frenzy as the Square's young actresses arrived for this year's Inside Soap Awards in London.

Heading the Walford gang were actresses Jacqueline Jossa, Shona McGarty and Danielle Harold looked every inch the TV starlets as they posed on the red carpet at Gilgamesh in Camden.


Jacqueline, 18, who plays Lauren Branning, looked stunning in a short black dress and towering red heels while Danielle, also 18, who plays tearaway Lola Pearce, ditched her tracksuit for a very sexy black asymmetrical cutaway dress Mary Jane style heels.

But it was Shona, 19, who looked the most transformed from her character, troubled Whitney Dean and looked very pretty in a chiffon cream dress and cream and yellow heels, her long black hair tumbling around her shoulders in loose waves.

Back to black: Jacqueline Jossa and Danielle Harold opted for little black dress and towering heels

Bianca wouldn't recognise you! Shona McGarty, who plays troubled teen Whitney, looked all grown-up in her pretty chiffon dress


They posed separately but came together to have a picture taken with one of the soap's five awards that it scooped on the night.

Battling them for the flashbulbs were the girls from their soap rival Coronation Street with Brooke Vincent and Sacha Parkinson leading the cuties from the cobbles.

Sultry Sophie: Corrie's Brooke Vincent looked very glamorous in her tight black dress, dark eyes and big hair

Ravishing in red: Sacha Parkinson looked very elegant in her striking halterneck jumpsuit


Brooke, 19, who plays Sophie Webster, looked vampy little black dress that showed off her curves.

She looked a far cry from the troubled teen she plays on the soap with her big hair and sexy make-up, while Sacha, also 19, and who plays her on-screen lesbian lover Sian Powers, decided against a dress and instead wore a striking red halterneck jumpsuit which made her look very grown-up.

Third time's the charm: Michelle Keegan, who looked stunning in her black dress, won the Sexiest Female for the third year running


But it was Michelle Keegan who stole the show in more ways than one, her outfit proving why she was crowed Sexiest Female for the third year running.

The actress, 24, who is engaged to the Wanted's Max George, looking stunning in her black ruched dress as she posed with her award.

Cheshire's finest: Former Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson, who is currently starring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, looked gorgeous in a purple lace dress while former co-star Bronagh Waugh kept it simple in black

Fancy Nancy: Jessica Fox, who plays Hollyoaks reporter Nancy Hayton, went for a black lacy number that showed off her curves

And she told BANG Showbiz: 'I genuinely didn't think I would win again. I think the people who vote clearly don't see me in my slobs on a daily basis. I think it's Tina they like anyway, not me. Max better have voted for me otherwise I'll kill him!'

Corrie also landed two other awards, one for Bill Tarmey’s emotional farewell from the soap after 30 years playing Jack Duckworth.

That was named Best Exit while Corrie also won the Outstanding Achievement Award for the dramatic tram crash and live episode for the show's 50th anniversary week.

Chris Fountain, who joined the soap in March as Tommy Duckworth, said it was a worthy award for the soap, and added: 'I think it's about time to be honest. That storyline was phenomenal and it hasn't been recognised at any other awards ceremonies. I'm just proud to be part of it.'

But the night went to their London rivals EastEnders, who reigned supreme with their five gongs, including the coveted Best Soap.

It was a good night for Jessie Wallace, whose off-screen troubles seemed even further away for the actress.

Jessie, who this weekend celebrated her 40th birthday with a very jolly and fun day out on the river, was crowned Best Actress for her portrayal of pub landlady Kat Moon.

Other EastEnders winners included young Maisie Smith who plays the funny and cute Tiffany Butcher, Tameka Empson won Funniest Performance for her hilarious portrayal of Kim Fox while the Masood and Khan nuptials were declared the Best Wedding.

Other winners included Hollyoaks star Danny Mac, who won Sexiest Male for his role as Dodger Savage, and Emmerdale’s Danny Miller, who landed two awards for the second year running.

He scooped Best Actor for his role as Aaron Livesy and Best Dramatic Performance for the assisted suicide scenes involving Aaron’s boyfriend, Jackson Walsh, while the Best Newcomer Award this year was given to Hollyoaks’ Emmett J Scanlan for his role as Brendan Brady.

Night off: Waterloo Road star Chelsee Healey put her Strictly Come Dancing training on hold for the night as she attended the awards in a sparkly blue dress

Winners: Chelsee Healey joined her Waterloo Road co-stars Lucien Laviscount and Rebecca Ryan as they posed with the show's Best Drama award


Home and Away was named Best Daytime Soap and Neighbours star Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi) was awarded Best Daytime Star for the second year running.

Best Drama went to Waterloo Road, also for the second year in succession.

Boys' night out: Emmerdale star Danny Miller, who won Best Actor and Best Dramatic Performance, and Hollyoaks's Danny Mac, who won Sexiest Male, pose with their awards

Well done you! Emmett J Scanlan is kissed by Hollyoaks co-star Bronagh Waugh as he posed with his Best Newcomer award

Make us laugh: EastEnders star Tameka Empson won Funniest Performance for her role as Kim Fox


Inside Soap magazine’s editor, Steven Murphy, said: 'Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, who thoroughly deserve their Awards.

'It’s been a fantastic year for British soaps, and I look forward to another exciting and dramatic 12 months ahead.'

Glamour girl: Nicola McLean was one of the non-soap guests and looked gorgeous in a sexy white gown


source:dailymail