Joyner: I hope Brannings win award

EastEnders star Jo Joyner has confessed she is really hoping to win Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards as she thinks Max and Tanya Branning deserve something good.

Jo and co-star Jake Wood have been shortlisted for the award for their performance as ex-husband and wife Max and Tanya, who were reunited as Max supported Tanya through her battle with cervical cancer.

Jo told the EastEnders website: "I'd like to get the couples one to be fair, because I do think it's nice for Max and Tanya to be up for that, because I'm quite fond of them as a couple."

The 34-year-old actress - who used to star in medical drama No Angels, filmed in Leeds and co-starring Doctors actress Sunetra Sarker - faces competition for the On-Screen Partnership award from Doctors stars Matthew Chambers and Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, Emmerdale's Jeff Hordley and Emma Atkins and Hollyoaks' Ashley Taylor Dawson and Jessica Fox.

Jo is also nominated for Best Actress, Best Dramatic Performance and Best Storyline.

She said: "I'm a bit nervous about being nominated for four British Soap Awards because it doesn't usually happen to me and it feels like a bit of pressure.

"I normally go to the soap awards not really caring and just go to meet some friends and see all my old friends from the north.

"And this year I suppose I'll have to worry about whether I'll fall over if I go down for an award!"