EastEnders wins big at the TV Choice Awards

EastEnders was the big winner at the TV Choice Awards last night. Credit: Andrew Stuart/PA Wire

EastEnders was the big winner at the TV Choice Awards last night, picking up a string of gongs including wins for stars Danny Dyer and Lindsey Coulson.

The pair, who play Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter and Carol Jackson in the BBC show, were named Best Soap Actor and Actress respectively.

Dyer saw off competition from fellow EastEnder Adam Woodyatt, who plays the long-suffering Ian Beale, while Coulson's performance as cancer patient Carol beat Coronation Street pair Julie Hesmondhalgh and Michelle Keegan.

The long-running show, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, was named Best Soap and given an honorary award to mark its three decades on the screen.

Geordie duo Ant and Dec also picked up a Special Contribution to Television award and were celebrating after ITV's Saturday Night Takeaway won Best Entertainment Show

Two other shows they host - I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! and Britain's Got Talent - also won awards.

Sarah Lancashire was named Best Actress for her role in gritty crime drama Happy Valley, which also won Best New Drama.

Sherlock was another double winner, picking up the Best Drama Series and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch.

Other winners included Hollyoaks' Kirsty-Leigh Porter who was named Best Soap Newcomer for her role as Leela Lomax and Julie Hesmondhalgh whose assisted suicide plot picked up Best Soap Storyline.

Meanwhile, from the other side of the Atlantic fantasy drama Game of Thrones was named Best International Show.

The full list of winners at the TV Choice Awards were:

  • Best Soap - EastEnders

  • Best New Drama - Happy Valley

  • Best Drama Series - Sherlock

  • Special Contribution To Television - EastEnders

  • Special Contribution To Television - Ant and Dec

  • Best Actor - Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock

  • Best Actress - Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley

  • Best Comedy - Benidorm

  • Best Reality Show - I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

  • Best Talent Show - Britain's Got Talent

  • Best Entertainment Show - Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

  • Best Factual Entertainment and Lifestyle Show - Educating Yorkshire

  • Best Daytime Show - The Jeremy Kyle Show

  • Best Food Show - Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking

  • Best International Show - Game Of Thrones

  • Best Soap Actor - Danny Dyer, EastEnders

  • Best Soap Newcomer - Kirsty-Leigh Porter, Hollyoaks

  • Best Soap Actress - Lindsey Coulson, EastEnders

  • Best Soap Storyline - Hayley's Cancer, Coronation Street