EastEnders and Corrie share honours

Coronation Street and EastEnders have shared the honours with seven prizes each at the British Soap Awards.

The Albert Square show took the coveted Best British Soap prize, but Corrie seized the award for Best Single Episode for Becky's Final Farewell.

Katherine Kelly, who played Becky McDonald until she left the cobbles earlier this year, also took the award for Best Exit. The character left for Barbados with a new man.

The two soaps also shared the awards for sexiest stars, with EastEnders' Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) and Corrie's Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) taking home the same awards they claimed last year.

Alison King, Coronation Street's Carla Connor, took the Best Actress award for her portrayal of the factory owner raped by her fiance. Best Actor went to Emmerdale's Danny Miller, for his portrayal of Aaron Livesy who reluctantly helped his partner, Jackson, to die.

Jackson's Choice was named Best Storyline and Emmerdale took a third award for Spectacular Scene of the Year for John & Moira's Car Accident.

Picking up the award for villain of the year, actor Andrew Lancel - whose depiction of evil Frank Foster who raped fiancee Carla left Corrie viewers gripped - said he was "absolutely flabbergasted" by his win.

Pam St Clement, who played EastEnders stalwart Pat Butcher for 25 years, earned a standing ovation when she was given the lifetime achievement award.

Meanwhile, Coronation Street's Stephanie Cole, who stars as Sylvia Goodwin, took the Best Comedy Performance award.

EastEnders stars Jo Joyner and Jake Wood were presented with the Best On-screen Partnership award for their portrayal of Albert Square's on-off couple Max Branning and Tanya Jessop. Joyner also picked up the best dramatic performance award for her depiction of Tanya's battle with cervical cancer.