CLASS ACTS - 'I WAS IN SHOCK - YOU DON'T EXPECT TO WIN'

IT WAS A NIGHT OF GLORY AND GRATITUDE AT THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS FOR OUR FAVOURITE STARS

- STEVEN MURPHY

The British Soap Awards hit the headlines in the run up to this year’s show, with singer and national treasure Jane McDonald taking over hosting duties following the much-publicised departure of Phillip Schofield. Supportive cheers filled The Lowry theatre in Salford for Jane, who had stepped in at only a few days’ notice and immediately made the show her own. But while the Yorkshire-born singer received universal praise, the real stars of the evening were the great and the good of soapland, who fought it out in 12 main categories, ranging from Best Comedy Performance to Best British Soap.

A shining star was Coronation Street’s Charlotte Jordan. The 28-year-old actress was front and centre as stalking victim Daisy Midgeley in the soap’s gripping acid attack storyline, which took home a hat-trick of awards. This haul included one of the most coveted of the night, Best Dramatic Performance, for Charlotte herself.

“Oh no, more public speaking!” laughed an overwhelmed Charlotte, as she took to the stage for the third time, the plot previously crowned both Scene Of The Year and Best Single Episode. She was presented with the trophy by Game Of Thrones star James Cosmo, admitting that she was “fangirling” him before she made her acceptance proper, which came slightly off the cuff, the star declaring at one point, “Oh gosh, what else do you say?”

“I was in total shock when they read my name out,” says Charlotte of her victory. “You don’t expect to win and then it was total panic as I hadn’t prepared a speech. So it was shock, panic and then thinking that you sounded really stupid and didn’t say the right thing!”