Coronation Street is big winner at Inside Soap Awards

‘Coronation Street’ won big at this year's Inside Soap Awards.

The ITV show took home seven gongs from the ceremony, including the coveted Best Soap, and a number of cast members won individual prizes, including as David Neilson (Roy Cropper) for Best Actor, and Sally Carman (Abi Webster) won the Best Actress accolade following the death of her on-screen son Seb Franklin, who was played by Harry Visinoni.

Sally said in her acceptance speech: “This is ace. I’m just so happy to be getting these storylines – and to be recognised for doing a good job is the best feeling. The writing of the storyline was so beautiful, so it was an honour to be asked to deliver those words.

"The great thing about 'Corrie' is that it feels like a different job one month to the next.

"One minute I’m filming in Kevin’s house, the next I’m in a film studio submerged in a sinkhole with a gun in my hand. Then I’m doing a scene with Dame Maureen Lipman. It’s just phenomenal to be paid to do this – so awards are a bonus!”

Gary Gillatt, the editor of Inside Soap, said: “The 36th annual Inside Soap Awards are dominated not so much by one soap as a single storyline: the hate crime attack on Coronation Street’s Seb and Nina, and the ripple effect it had on their families and community.

"It’s the kind of intimate story – taking us close to an all-too-real tragedy – that packs a punch, delivered by the most talented and popular actors working in Britain today.”

The show worked closely with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, a group focused on tackling hate crime to getting a better understanding of the reality of social exclusion and prejudice experienced by some groups in society in honour of Sophie, a teen who was murdered by a group while walking through a park with her boyfriend.

Elsewhere, 'Corrie' star Dame Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer) took home the Funniest Performance prize.

She said: “It’s wonderful to be funny in this day and age – and I’m as pleased as if I was 19. To come in at 75 years old and be named Best Newcomer in 2019 and now the funniest person in soap – it’s really, really nice."

Other winners included Emmerdale's Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) as Best Villain, and Holby City's Rosie Marcel (Jac Naylor) scooped Best Drama Star.

The complete list of Inside Soap Awards 2021 winners:

Best Actress

Sally Carman (Abi Webster) - Coronation Street

Best Actor

David Neilson (Roy Cropper) - Coronation Street

Best Newcomer

Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman)- Coronation Street

Best Villain

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) - Emmerdale

Funniest Performance

Dame Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer) - Coronation Street

Best Partnership

Mollie Gallagher and David Neilson (Nina Lucas & Roy Cropper) - Coronation Street

Best Family

The Dingles - Emmerdale

Best Storyline

Nina and Seb hate crime killing - Coronation Street

Feel-Good Moment

Ben and Callum's wedding - EastEnders

Best Drama Star

Rosie Marcel (Jac Naylor) - Holby City

Best Daytime Star

April Rose Pengilly (Chloe Brennan) - Neighbours