TV Times Awards Favourite Soap Star Nominees
Jessie Wallace
It's been all drama for her EastEnders alter ego, Kat Slater, with the baby swap storyline making headline news at the start of the year. Eventually baby Tommy was reunited with his mum, Kat. But, later in the year Kat suffered the tragedy of a miscarriage, leaving her devastated.
Chris Gascoyne
Peter and Leanne, Carla and Peter, Nick and Leanne... Corrie does like a love triangle or three! The year got off to a dramatic start for Chris's character as Peter stunned the crowds by exposing Leanne at their wedding blessing. And it's been on-off-on for the troubled pair ever since, with Chris providing some of the best moments in the Street for years.
Pauline Quirke
Sleepy Emmerdale has been mired in controversy this year, and it's all centred on Pauline's character, Hazel Rhodes. The assisted suicide of her son, Jackson (Marc Silcock), sparked a media debate. As for Hazel, she's set to exit the series at Christmas, which will be a sad loss for her many fans. The good news is that she won't be killed off. "They've left the door open for me," says Pauline.
Danny Miller
Aaron Livesy's controversial storylines in Emmerdale have caused Danny's stock to rise in soapland - he scooped the Best Actor gong at May's British Soap Awards. You can see why people have been glued to his character. With the assisted suicide and Aaron's subsequent trial, Danny has been involved in one of Emmerdale's most talked-about plots.
Jane Danson
The continuing trials of Leanne Battersby have been at the forefront of Corrie in 2011. The New Year kicked off with humiliation at the altar when Peter turned on her over Nick. In the summer, she discovered that Stella (Michelle Collins) was her birth mum. And there was sadness, too, as she suffered a miscarriage. Only a fine actress could handle tribulations like these with sensitivity, and Jane does that week in, week out.
Jake Wood
If you thought Max Branning was the biggest bad 'un in Albert Square, wait till you meet his older brother Derek (Jamie Foreman), who's set to join the show later this year. Until that happens, though, there's really only one Mr Nasty act in town, and that's Jake Wood's aggressive alter ego. This year Max has excelled himself by cheating on fiancee Vanessa with his ex-wife, Tanya.
