EastEnders beat old rival Coronation Street to take home nine gongs, including the big one - best soap, at the Inside Soap awards last night.

Lacey Turner, who plays the BBC programme’s scheming Stacey Branning, stole the show as she was given the best actress award, and named as half of the year’s best couple, alongside her long-suffering, on-screen husband Bradley Branning.

She was also pivotal to EastEnders winning the best storyline award for the plot that saw Stacey's scandalous affair with father-in-law Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, revealed at Christmas. The storyline beat the year’s other big soap moments, including the death of Vera Duckworth on Coronation Street.

EastEnders also took the best actor award, with Robert Kazinsky, who plays the psychopathic Sean Slater, taking home the gong. Kazinsky was also named sexiest male, beating last year’s winner Coronation Street’s Rob James-Collier.

EastEnders other wins included Rita Simons clinching the best newcomer award for her role as Roxy Slater and Cheryl Fergison scooping the funniest performance for her portrayal of Heather Trott. Kara Tointon, who plays Dawn Swann, picked up the award for a second time for sexiest female.

While Coronation Street’s haul was down on last year, when they won best soap, they retained the best screen villain for the fourth year thanks to Jack P Shepherd’s evil portrayal of David Platt. Onetime Hear’Say singer Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connors, was named best-dressed soap star.

Other winners at the awards, held at London’s Camden Lock, included Ellis Hollins, who took the best young actor trophy for his role as Tom Cunningham in Hollyoaks, and The Bill, which was named best drama for the third year running. Here are the

Inside Soap awards winners 2008:

Best actor

Robert Kazinsky (Sean Slater, EastEnders)

Best actress

Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning, EastEnders)

Sexiest male

Robert Kazinsky (Sean Slater, EastEnders)

Sexiest female

Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann, EastEnders)

Best young actor

Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham, Hollyoaks)

Best newcomer

Rita Simons (Roxy Slater, EastEnders)

Best bad boy

Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street)

Best bitch

Alison King (Carla Connor, Coronation Street)

Best couple

Lacey Turner and Charlie Clements (Stacey and Bradley Branning, EastEnders)

Funniest performance

Cheryl Fergison (Heather Trott, EastEnders)

Best-dressed soap star

Kym Marsh (Coronation Street)

Best drama

The Bill

Best storyline

Max and Stacey's affair revealed at Christmas (EastEnders)

Outstanding achievement

Chris Chittell (Eric Pollard, Emmerdale)

Best soap

EastEnders

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