EastEnders triumphs at Soap Awards

EastEnders triumphed at the British Soap Awards at the weekend, winning ten awards including both Best Actor and Actress and the coveted Best Soap.

The departing Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Branning took home the Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance prizes whilst Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) claimed Best Actor and Sexist Male.

The BBC1 soap was also victorious in the Best Single Episode category for the 25th anniversary live episode, Best Storyline for Who Killed Archie?, Villain of the Year for Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell), Best Exit for Charlie Clements' (Bradley Branning) and Marc Elliot (Syed Masood) won Best Newcomer.

EastEnders have had a hugely successful year and these awards recognised great acting and storylines including Syed's struggle with his sexuality, Archie Mitchell's dramatic Christmas Day murder and the show's first ever live episode, which saw Stacey admit to killing off Archie shortly after husband Bradley had plummeted to his death.

In the other categories Coronation Street picked up three awards; Sexist Female for Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre), Best Comedy Performance for Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor) and the Lifetime Achievement award for long-standing cast member Betty Driver (Betty Williams).

Hollyoaks claimed the Spectacular Scene of the Year award for Sarah Barnes's (Loui Batley) terrifying fatal skydive whilst Doctors won Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress for Sapphire Cox's portrayal of Ami Metcalf and Best On-Screen Partnership, which went to Jan Pearsons and Chris Walker (Karen and Rob Hollins).

Emmerdale would have been hugely disappointed to go home with only one award, the Special Achievement award for writer Bill Lyons. Emmerdale were nominated in every category but missed out on awards including Best Actor for Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) and Best Storyline for Aaron's struggle with this sexuality. Despite an impressive year for EastEnders, the writing and acting from all involved on Aaron's storyline was deserving of award recognition.

The British Soap Awards will be shown on ITV1 on 19th May 2010.

For a full list of winners click here.

Picture from Digital Spy

Soap deaths get grisly

When a soap actor or actress ask to leave they must wonder what they are letting themselves in for these days as soap bosses try and think up more horribly unique ways for a character to meet their maker.

More recently in Albert Square we have had Trina Johnson (Sharon Duncan Brewster) falling victim to the unfortunately positioned garden rake through the neck in Charlie Slater's summerhouse and now I have just watched Sarah Barnes fall to her gruesome death in Hollyoaks Later after a sabotaged skydive.

Although both EastEnders and Hollyoaks could be criticised for both the nasty endings and slightly unrealistic plots (something that has long been a point of objection for many soap critics) both deaths provide unmissable action and great acting.

Tonight's Hollyoaks Later, which saw Sarah Barnes (Loui Batley) plummet to the ground as her parachute failed to open was awkward viewing (viewing that I did mainly hid behind a cushion as she raced towards the ground). The sight of her moments from her death, screaming out for help before she inevitably hit the ground was frightening to even watch.

The reactions of those close to her, including Zoe (Zoe Lister) on discovering her body and her Dad Mike (Tony Hirst) on being told the news were heartbreaking and perfectly in tune with the sad music.

So whilst soaps can easily be criticised for their over elaborate plots Hollyoaks have proven that when a storyline is written, acted and produced well it can entertain and captivate viewers (even if tonight's episode did scare and horrify me in equal measures!)

Picture from What's on TV

Soap posts: Hollyoaks lights up the screen

Once again teen soap Hollyoaks has dragged me back. With the soap being on a quite unexpected and steep fall from grace since the turn of the year I was unsure whether to bother watching the climax to this week's episodes on Friday night.

But I was certainly not disappointed as I tuned in to witness The Loft inferno and demise of bad boy Warren Fox. The return of local super villain Clare Bates saw The Loft nightclub ravaged by fire as she looked for revenge on Justin Burton. But when Justin's girlfriend Hannah turned up at the scene of the crime looking for Justin she was unwittingly dragged into the drama as Clare held nemesis Warren captive.

As fire destroyed The Loft Justin saved Hannah and left Warren to meet his grisly end, all that was left of Clare was a single red shoe (surely a sign of her return as she yet again as she escapes another near death experience - think back to when her car plunged into a lake for her to drag herself out and walk off into the distance)

Hollyoaks may not be known for it's top notch acting but it can certainly delivers spectacular scenes. Once or twice a year Hollyoaks creates an episode that keeps me hooked, back in 2008 the dramatic death of newly wed Max Cunningham and revenge of long lost son Niall Rafferty were good examples.

This week's fire scene was dramatic and impressive, although the lack of fire engines and police to the scene until it was too late was a questionable plot device. All actors and characters involved played their parts well, with Warren Fox getting the dramatic send off his character deserved.

He has been a integral part of the show over recent years, involved in the majority of criminal activity that has besieged the village during his time. But as a murderer (of both old nemesis Sean Kennedy and wife Louise Summers) Warren was always going to get his comeuppance. He may have been a bad boy that viewers loved to hate but Jamie Lomas' character had run his course.

Whether Hollyoaks can hold my interest long enough to keep me watching is another thing but yet again they have delivered on high paced spectacular scenes and dramatic deaths.

Picture from WhatsonTV