EastEnders won the best soap award and six others

The BBC soap won seven awards, among them best soap, while ITV's Coronation Street won five and Emmerdale three.

Shane Richie won best actor as Queen Vic landlord Alfie Moon in EastEnders. His on-screen wife Kat, played by Jessie Wallace, won sexiest female.

Nigel Harman was named sexiest male and best newcomer for his role as Dennis Rickman, also in EastEnders.

Baby bombshell

Co-star Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Jackson, was awarded best dramatic performance by a young actor or actress.

But Suranne Jones won best actress for her role as feisty Karen McDonald in Coronation Street.

SOAP AWARD WINNERS Best British soap: EastEnders Best actor: Shane Richie (Alfie Moon, EastEnders) Best actress: Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald, Coronation Street) Sexiest male and best newcomer: Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman, EastEnders) Sexiest female: Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon, EastEnders) Best storyline: Coronation Street (Tracy tricks Roy and tries to ruin Karen and Steve's wedding) Best dramatic performance: Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale) Best dramatic performance from a young actor: Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Jackson, EastEnders) Best exit: Sheree Murphy (Tricia Dingle, Emmerdale) In pictures: Soap stars arrive

The Street also took the best storyline prize for Tracy Barlow's attempts to sell her baby to the Croppers and her announcement at Steve and Karen's wedding.

And Kate Ford, who plays Tracy, won the award for soap bitch of the year.

Villain of the year went to Charlie Brooks, who plays EastEnders' Janine Evans - she killed husband Barry and is now being framed for the murder of Laura.

ITV soap Emmerdale took home three prizes including best dramatic performance for Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle.

His screen wife Sheree Murphy, who plays Tricia Dingle, won best exit for her death during a freak storm which hit the village.

The storm earned Emmerdale the award for spectacular scene of the year.

Odd couple Hayley and Roy Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Neilson, won best on-screen partnership.

Suranne Jones of Coronation Street was named best actress

There was also one award apiece for Hollyoaks and daytime soap Doctors.

Lily Savage actor Paul O'Grady hosted this year's awards at BBC Television Centre in west London.

There were a total of 17 categories, including six voted for by viewers, and 11 by an expert panel.

Organisers of the British Soap Awards, now in its sixth year, say it has become the UK's most-watched awards ceremony.

Last year's TV audiences outstripped those for the Brits, Bafta and the National TV Awards.