Inside Soap Awards: Danny Dyer, 43, and Kellie Bright, 44, joke about their ages during win

EastEnders stars Danny Dyer, 43, and Kellie Bright, 44, joked about their ages at the virtual 2020 Inside Soap Awards on Monday night.

The two stars, who play on-screen couple Mick and Linda Carter, scooped the Best Partnership gong during the soap star-studded event hosted by Annette Badland, who previously played Aunt Babe on the soap.

Appearing from the EastEnders set in a pre-recorded video, Danny and Kellie made sure they stood at a social distance as they proudly celebrated their win. They previously won the same gong in 2018. 

Danny said: ‘It really does mean a lot this, the fact that anyone votes for us is always a revelation to me. We’re old now, we’re like veterans!’

To which Kellie quipped: ‘We’re very old now! I am really chuffed because I thought once we had won it once, we wouldn’t win it again.’ 

Danny continued: ‘We’re over the moon about this. Congratulations to everyone else who nicked one of these as well.’  

He added: ‘We have been through so much together on this show. It is always a joy to come and work with Kellie. She is a brilliant actress.’ 

While Kellie sweetly said: ‘I love Danny and I’s relationship on and off screen, so anything that celebrates that is really lovely. Mick and Linda’s love for each other is so honest and true. 

‘People look at them and go, “I wish my husband was a bit more like Mick”, or, “I wish my wife looked at me the way Linda looks at Mick”. People want a happy ever after to believe in.’ 

EastEnders emerged triumphant from the virtual 2020 Inside Soap Awards on Monday night as the show was voted this year’s Best Soap. 

The BBC series won a total of five awards at the virtual ceremony while its ITV rival Coronation Street was close behind with four gongs.

Jessica Plummer won the award for Best Actress for her role as Chantelle Atkins in EastEnders, describing the win as ‘one of the biggest achievements of my career’. 

The star, 28, who is currently taking part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! said in a pre-recorded video before appearing on the ITV reality show: ‘This is probably one of the biggest achievements of my career. It was an honour to even be nominated, so I’m completely blown away.

‘I came off social media for a quite long time (for me!) after my final episode aired as I personally had to mourn my character and all the changes in my life, but when I came back, the reception I got from everyone was so heartwarming. Chantelle was a loved character and it really was an honour to play her.’

Jessica bid farewell to EastEnders in September when her character, Chantelle Atkins, was killed by husband Gray following months of abuse.  

She added: ‘I was given the opportunity to highlight such an incredible important topic especially during the pandemic where cases of domestic violence have risen hugely. The fact that it struck a chord with you guys, is everything.’ 

Meanwhile, Coronation Street star Ian Bartholomew took home the awards for both Best Actor and Best Villain for his role as the terrifying Geoff Metcalfe.

The actor also had a joint win for Best Show-Stopper with actress Shelley King who plays his wife Yasmeen, the victim of Geoff’s horrifying abuse.

Speaking about his wins, Ian said: ‘For me, witnessing Shelley crumbling as Yasmeen, and watching this character that I was playing destroy her in front of me was actually really quite upsetting. I felt bad doing all those things, but we both wanted to do it as well and as truthfully as we could.’ 

He also thanked Coronation Street for giving him the chance as an ‘older actor’ to portray such an important storyline on the soap.

Ian also dedicated the award to all the real life victims and survivors of domestic abuse, he said: ‘Now, I’d like to dedicate this award to all the real life victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

‘Because for them, the situation that they are in, it’s not just a story on TV. It’s a frightening and harsh reality I’m afraid, so let’s spare a thought for them.’   

On winning Show-Stopper, Shelley said: ‘People were shouting at me from their cars, going, ”Yeah, good on ya, Yas!” It was lovely.’ 

Karen Taylor star Lorraine Stanley, who scooped Funniest Performance, said of her win: ‘Woohoo! Just stepped off set and I’ve been given this bad boy [her award]. Thank you so much to everyone who has voted, honestly, it really does mean a lot.

‘Thank you to Inside Soap, you’re brilliant as always and have always supported me. I’d like to share this with Ricky Champ because he’s absolutely funny, he was nominated, he’s my mate and he deserves a little bit of this. Although it will go on my mum’s mantlepiece!’      

Another winner on the night was Emmerdale with the show taking home the gong for Best Family for the Dingles.

Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy, accepted the award, she said: ‘We are all so proud, we really do feel like one big, happy northern family. 

‘We love what we do, and we really care, so obviously that comes through on the screen. And as we always say – Dingle till we die.’ 

Other winners at the ceremony included Mollie Gallagher who won for Best Newcomer for her role as Nina Lucas on Coronation Street.

Meanwhile, Casualty star Cathy Shipton won for Best Drama Star for her role as Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin and Neighbours won for Best Daytime Soap. 

With Neighbours star Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson, winning the Best Daytime Star award. Talking about his win, he said: ‘Well look at what I’ve got! I can’t thank you enough for this, thank you very much everybody. All the loyal watchers of Neighbours and the readers of Inside Soap for voting for me. 

‘You don’t realise, this is actually a very special award for me in a couple of ways. One, because it’s the very first prize I’ve ever won for my craft, so thank you and also it’s been a bit of a tough year for everybody, including myself, so what a great way to cap that off.’ 

The Inside Soap Awards were revealed on the Inside Soap Facebook page and YouTube channel on Monday evening.