The Inside Soap Awards is one of the biggest nights in the soap calendar and never fails to draw in the biggest names from Britain’s much-loved shows.
But it was Emmerdale that dominated the annual awards ceremony this year, with the ITV soap taking home a whopping EIGHT awards and the coveted accolade Best Soap for the third year running – beating the likes of its rivals Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks.
Celebrating on the night had been actress Natalie J. Robb, 42, who plays Moira Dingle and was crowned Sexiest Female, while Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) bagged Best Actor and Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk) was awarded Funniest Male.
Soap star Natalie proved exactly why she was voted this year’s Sexiest Female, as she slipped into a sultry velvet jumpsuit for the evening. She beat the likes of Jennifer Metcalfe, Catherine Tyldesley and Jacqueline Jossa to scoop the accolade and couldn’t hide her delight, as she celebrated at the bash.
Natalie looked sensational in the stunning design that perfectly teased a look at her hourglass frame and sat just off the shoulder to expose her bare decolletage. Her all-in-one boasted a fitted bodice that nipped in at the waist before billowing out around her legs in a flared design.
The star was seen clutching onto her award and beaming with delight, after being presented with the gong at the annual event that commemorates Britain’s soaps.
Natalie is best known for playing the role of Moira Dingle on ITV’s Emmerdale for the last eight years, having joined the soap back in 2009.
On top: Emmerdale’s Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle), meanwhile, took home the trophy for Best Actor – Danny sought off competition from fellow co-star John Middleton (Ashley Thomas), Coronation’s Street Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) and EastEnders star Danny Dyer (Mick Carter)
Double whammy! He was joined on the winner’s red carpet by his co-star Dominic Brunt who won Funniest Male
Throughout her time on the show, she has been a part of several major storylines, including a fiery romance with Cain Dingle, an incestuous affair with her onscreen nephew Pete, a HIV scare and her daughter Holly dying after taking an overdose.
More recently, viewers watched on as Moira gave birth – with the identity of her child’s father later revealed to be her ex-husband Cain. She unexpectedly went into labour during a showdown with Emma Barton while trapped in a barn fire.
Joining her on the list of winners had been her co-star Danny Miller, 26, who’s onscreen character Aaron is a firm favourite among Emmerdale viewers. Fans championed his character’s relationship with Robert Sugden and were left heartbroken when the duo split onscreen in recent months.
Success! Brunt was nominated for the gong, along with Simon Gregson, Emmerdale’s Nick Miles (Jimmy King) and Hollyoaks’ Ashley Taylor Dawson known for playing Darren Osborne
Ecstatic: The soap star couldn’t hide his delight as he clutched onto his award during the evening
On a role! Emmerdale also scooped the award for Best Bad Girl, with Gillian Kearney winning the category for her role as Emma Barton
Beautiful: Gillian looked just lovely in a burgundy lace dress that nipped in at the waist and featured a high neck
Danny sought off competition from his fellow co-star John Middleton (Ashley Thomas), along with Coronation’s Street Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) and EastEnders star Danny Dyer who is known for his role as Mick Carter on the BBC soap.
Despite losing out to Danny in the Best Actor category, John found himself winning the award for Best Exit, following his character’s battle with dementia and emotional death that aired onscreen back in April. He beat the exit of Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, played by Samantha Womack and Rita Simons, who drowned to death on New Year’s Day following Ronnie’s wedding on EastEnders.
Dominic Brunt, meanwhile, took home the award for Funniest Male. Brunt was nominated for the gong, along with Simon Gregson, Emmerdale’s Nick Miles (Jimmy King) and Hollyoaks’ Ashley Taylor Dawson known for playing Darren Osborne.
Emmerdale also scooped the award for Best Bad Girl, with Gillian Kearney winning the category for her role as Emma Barton. Viewers recently saw her plunge to her death on the show, with the storyline now unearthing who was behind the character’s death.
Suit you: Picking up her honour, the ITV darling – who joined the long-running soap as the daughter of Sarah Platt in 2015 – stunned on the award show carpet in an eye-catching red pant suit
Chuffed! Connor McIntyre was seen clutching onto two awards as he took home Best Bad Boy for his role as resident villain Pat Phelan on Coronation Street, along with Best Shock Twist, after Andy Carver was revealed to be alive
Alfie Clark (Arthur Thomas) took home the award for Best Young Actor in another win for Emmerdale, while the soap also won Best Show-stopper for the scenes that captured the mammoth motorway crash and James Barton’s death back in October last year.
Coronation Street, meanwhile, came a close second to Emmerdale, as they left the evening with five awards to boot.
Lucy Fallon, 21, headed up their success, as she was awarded Best Actress, thanks to her portrayal of troubled teenager Bethany Platt. Viewers saw Bethany become involved in harrowing grooming storyline that saw her goaded into a sex ring by her boyfriend and ‘groomer’ Nathan Curtis.
She was attacked by police officer Neil Clifton, but justice was finally served as he was sentenced to prison alongside the gang after they were found guilty of raping Bethany and of conspiracy to rape.
Lucy stunned at the ceremony in an eye-catching red pant suit. The blonde beauty flaunted her midriff as she teamed the look with a stomach-grazing crop top that boasted frill detail.
Dazzling: With the leggy Playboy pin-up on his arm, the dapper EastEnders’ hunk showed why he won his crown in a two-piece suit
Leggy lady: The Strictly Come Dancing professional looked beautiful on his arm, putting the drama into her eye make-up and bold dangling earrings
Huge accolade: Albert Square’s Gilllian Taylforth, known as Kathy Beale onscreen, took home the night’s Outstanding Achievement Award to commemorate her time on EastEnders
Delightful: She looked simply stunning in a form-fitting frock that boasted a pretty embellished bodice
Her stylish choice accentuated her slender figure as she paired her cigarette pants with sky-high pointed black stilettos and worked her tresses into a messy top knot.
She had joined the long-running soap as the daughter of Sarah Platt, played by actress Tina O’Brien, in 2015.
Lucy had beaten the likes of Emmerdale’s Charlotte Bellamy (Laurel Thomas), Zoe Henry (who plays Emmerdale’s Rhona Goskirk) and Hollyoaks star Anna Passey (Sienna Blake) who were also up for the Best Actress award.
Other honours that Coronation Street found themselves bestowed with on the night included Best Shock Twist, after Andy Carver was revealed to be alive, and Best Bad Boy, as not surprisingly the Cobble’s resident villain Pat Phelan, played by Connor McIntyre, came out on top in that category.
The soap also took home Funniest Female and Best Newcomer.
What a goddess: The Hollyoaks star slipped into a Grecian-inspired one shouldered gown
Hugging it out: The co-stars cuddled up to one another as they accepted their award
Winner! Casualty star George Rainsford, who plays Ethan Hardy, won the award for Best Drama Star
Bringing in the award for EastEnders had been Strictly Come Dancing star Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi) who picked up the Sexiest Male prize, fending off competition from Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson (Adam Barlow) and Emmerdale’s Michael Parr (Ross Barton) and Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe).
Albert Square’s Gilllian Taylforth, known as Kathy Beale onscreen, took home the night’s Outstanding Achievement Award to commemorate her time on EastEnders – she has starred on the soap on and off since 1985, recently returning to Walford, much to the delight of viewers.
Channel 4’s Hollyoaks took home a win for the hilarious double act of Lysette Anthony and Nicole Barber-Lane, who pick up the Best Partnership Award.
While Doctors won its first-ever Inside Soap Award as Lorna Laidlaw secured the prize for Best Daytime Star. And Aussie TV stalwart Neighbours won Best Daytime Soap.