INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2022: Jennifer Metcalfe and Chelsee Healey lead the red carpet glamour

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If there really is a north-south divide, it was highly visible Monday night when Yorkshire-based Emmerdale battled cockney soap EastEnders for the lion’s share of accolades at the 2022 Inside Soap Awards.

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe ran the glamor at 100 Wardour Street in London and made sure to claim her own share of the limelight despite being absent from this year’s winners list.

The 39-year-old actress – best known for her role as feisty Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 show – turned heads in a form-fitting green dress with a daring thigh-high split as she greeted onlookers at the exclusive Soho venue.

Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey looked equally glamorous in a gothic inspired sheer gown that showed off her incredible figure best with its figure-hugging style.

The battle between EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks has been rekindled at this year’s Inside Soap Awards.

The hit shows compete for the best actor and actress awards, among other accolades, after a tumultuous year of drama-filled storylines.

The awards have also introduced a whole new category as fans get the chance to vote for an All-Time Icon, where they can choose any soap star from any show that has made watching TV truly special to them.

Fight on: The battle between EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks has been rekindled at this year's Inside Soap Awards (EastEnders' Phil Mitchell)

Fight on: The battle between EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks has been rekindled at this year’s Inside Soap Awards (EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell)

Voting opened for 16 different prizes in July and nearly 90,000 votes have been counted and verified so far.

Featuring the Top Four nominees representing the cream of the crop in soap opera and the leading contenders in categories such as Best Actor and Actress, Best Newcomer and Best Comic Performance, Best Storyline and Best Family.

After Coronation Street took first place last year, and a slew of other awards alongside, every contender has raised the bar this year.

The reigning champions are hoping to rake in some accolades as the shocking sinkhole drama could earn the nod to Best Showstopper.

Awards: The hit soap operas compete for best actor and actress awards, among other accolades, after a tumultuous year of drama-filled storylines (character Toyah Battersby, Coronation Street)

Awards: The hit soap operas compete for best actor and actress awards, among other accolades, after a tumultuous year of drama-filled storylines (character Toyah Battersby, Coronation Street)

Awards: The hit soap operas compete for best actor and actress awards, among other accolades, after a tumultuous year of drama-filled storylines (character Toyah Battersby, Coronation Street)

Other dramatic moments lining up for the award include Luke Morgan’s death in Mallorca in Hollyoaks and EastEnder’s Jane Slater’s trip to Southend.

Marlon’s stroke at Emmerdale has also been recognized in the category, as well as for Best Storyline, after the show was intended to raise awareness about strokes with the line.

The prestigious Best Actor award includes reigning champion David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street), Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale) and Gregory Finnegan (James Nightingale, Hollyoaks).

1666029204 174 INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2022 Jennifer Metcalfe and Chelsee Healey lead

1666029204 174 INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2022 Jennifer Metcalfe and Chelsee Healey lead

Acknowledgment: Gillian Wright (pictured) has a chance to win two awards this year – following her heartbreaking storyline in which character Jean Slater battles her demons before being divided into sections

Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell, EastEnders) is also hoping to take home the Best Actor award, despite his grueling rape storyline missing out on Best Storyline.

Hollyoaks’ actress Harvey Virdi has been nominated for Best Actress after her character Misbah Maalik came to realize that Ali Shahzad (Raji James) had raped her.

And actress Gillian Wright has a chance to win two awards this year — following her heartbreaking storyline in which character Jean Slater battles her demons before being cut into sections.

Sea icons Sally Dexter (Faith Dingle, Emmerdale) and Sally Carman (Abi Webster, Coronation Street) also compete in the same critically acclaimed category.

Impressive: The prestigious Best Actor award includes reigning champion David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street)

Impressive: The prestigious Best Actor award includes reigning champion David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street)

Impressive: The prestigious Best Actor award includes reigning champion David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street)

EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher) has once again made her mark on the Best Villain award, where she will take on Maximus Evans (Corey Brent, Coronation Street).

Also nominated for the wink Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher, EastEnders), Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla, Emmerdale) and Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox, Hollyoaks).

For the Best Family award, The Platts (Coronation Street), The Slaters (EastEnders), The Dingles (Emmerdale) and The McQueens (Hollyoaks) are ready to battle it out.

Elsewhere, Doctors, Home and Away and Neighbors – the last episode of which aired sometime in July – are also competing against each other as they hope for the best daytime soap.

As the Inside Soap Awards celebrate 30 years, the new category hopes to call All-time Icon “TV’s ultimate drama magnet.”

Gary Gillatt, editor of Inside Soap magazine, said: ‘Even in a world of competing streaming services, soap operas remain the most watched programs on TV, and their main characters the biggest stars in Britain.

“To celebrate 30 glorious, ridiculous years of Inside Soap, we’re offering our readers – the most informed viewers out there – this chance to celebrate the absolute best of the best. We’re looking for the ultimate TV drama magnet. The sea icon above all icons.’

At last year’s Inside Soap Awards, Coronation Street took home seven wins, including Best Daytime Soap, while Sally Carman (Abi Webster) took home Best Actress and David Neilson (Roy Cropper) took home Best Actor.

INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2022: WINNERS

Best actress

Sally Carman (Abi Webster, Coronation Street)

WINNER: Gillian Wright (Jean Slater, EastEnders)

Sally Dexter (Faith Dingle, Emmerdale)

Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik, Holly)

Best actor

David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street)

Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell, EastEnders)

WINNER: Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)

Gregory Finnegan (James Nightingale, Hollyoaks)

dear newcomer

Paddy Beaver (Max Turner, Coronation Street)

WINNER: Heather Peace (Eve Unwin, EastEnders)

Louise Jameson (Mary Goskirk, Emmerdale)

Matthew James Bailey (Ethan Williams, Hollyoaks)

best villain

Maximus Evans (Corey Brent, Coronation Street)

Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher, EastEnders)

WINNER: Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla, Emmerdale)

Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox, Hollyoaks)

Best Comedy Performance

WINNER: Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)

Tameka Empson (Kim Fox, EastEnders)

Dominic Brunt (Paddy Dingle, Emmerdale)

Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen, Hollyoaks)

Best double act

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

Gillian Wright & Lacey Turner (Jean & Stacey Slater, Ronnie)

Dominic Brunt & Mark Charnock (Paddy & Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)

WINNER: Anna Passey & Kieron Richardson (Sienna Blake & Ste Hay, Hollyoaks)

Inside Soap All-Time Icon

WINNER: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders)

Best young artist

WINNER: Isabella Flanagan (Hope Stape, Coronation Street)

Lillia Turner (Lily Slater, EastEnders)

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale)

Jayden Fox (Bobby Costello, Hollyoaks)

Best family

WINNER: The Platts (Coronation Street)

The Slaters (EastEnders)

The Dingles (Emmerdale)

The McQueens (Hollyoaks)

Best storyline

Abi’s Battle for Baby Alfie (Coronation Street)

Jean’s Bipolar Disorder (EastEnders)

WINNER: Marlon’s Stroke (Emmerdale)

Misbah’s Historical Rape (Hollyoaks)

Best romance

Sally Dynevor & Joe Duttine (Sally & Tim Metcalfe, Coronation Street)

Lacey Turner & Jaz Deol (Stacey Slater & Kheerat Panesar, EastEnders)

WINNER: Zoe Henry & Mark Charnock (Rhona Goskirk & Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)

Jessica Fox & Ashley Taylor Dawson (Nancy & Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)

Best showstopper

Sinkhole horror / Johnny drowns (Coronation Street)

WINNER: Jean in Southend (EastEnders)

Marlon’s Stroke (Emmerdale)

Luke’s Death in Majorca (Hollyoaks)

Best Drama Star

Elinor Lawless (Stevie Nash, Casualty)

Jason Durr (David Hide, Victim)

Alex Walkinshaw (Adrian ‘Fletch’ Fletcher, Holby City)

WINNER: Rosie Marcel (Jac Naylor, Holby City)

Best Daytime Star

Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman, Doctors)

Emily Symons (Marilyn Chambers, Home and Away)

Ben Turland (Hendrix Greyson, Neighbours)

WINNER: Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson, Neighbours)

Best daytime soap

doctors

Home and away

WINNER: Neighbors

best soap

Coronation Street

WINNER: EastEnders

Emmerdale

hollyoaks