Street party as Corrie hailed best soap on night of triumph and tears
Weatherfield stars celebrate after hailing lost legend
Coronation Street was last night hailed Britain’s best at the TV Soap Awards.
But it was a night of tears as well as triumph for the show’s stars as an emotional tribute was paid to Weatherfield legend Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth. Corrie took the top award, knocking Emmerdale off the spot it had held for the past two years.
Lucy Fallon, who plays Bethany Platt in the ITV drama, was named best actress and also won best female dramatic performance for a chilling child grooming storyline.
Accepting the award, Lucy, 21, said last night: “I don’t really know what to say.”
The best actor award was won by Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt in Corrie.
Ross Adams of Hollyoaks won best male dramatic performance award for his work as Scott Drinkwell, who struggles with mental health issues. Emmerdale actress Isobel Steele , 17, who plays Liv Flaherty, won best young actor.
The singer-songwriter from Salford, Manchester, won TV Times’ best newcomer last year.
The best villain prize went to Coronation Street’s Connor Mcintyre for his portrayal of monstrous Pat Phelan, who is murdered after shooting his own daughter.
Hollyoaks’ Malique Thompson Dwyer and Theo Graham took the best partnership prize.
And Emmerdale won soap’s greatest moment, a special category brought in to mark the award show’s 30th anniversary. The Hotten bypass crash from 2016 won in the one-off category. Best comedy moment went to Ian Midlane, who plays Dr Al Haskey in Doctors.
The best storyline went to Hollyoaks for Lily Drinkwell’s selfharm agony.
Played by actress Lauren Mcqueen, Lily spends months hiding her psychological addiction from family and friends until she is finally discovered to be harming herself.
Last year’s winner was Ashley’s dementia battle in Emmerdale. The best newcomer award went to Lorraine Stanley, who plays Karen Taylor in Eastenders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, there was a tie for best scene.
The Bollywood Proposal from Doctors and Lauren and Abi’s Eastenders’ roof fall shared the prize.
The outstanding achievement award was presented to Rudolph Walker.
But the tears flowed as stars said a final farewell to Vera Duckworth. Much-loved actress Liz Dawn, who passed away aged 77 last year after a long battle with illness, was a Corrie stalwart and muchmissed by cast and viewers alike.