EastEnders' Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie have picked up a string of nominations at the British Soap Awards after their controversial comeback in the BBC One show. The pair, who play Kat and Alfie Moon, were at the centre of a storyline about their young son being snatched from his cot by Ronnie Branning, played by Samantha Womack. Scenes where Samantha's character swapped her dead child for their baby prompted thousands of complaints to the BBC. Jessie and Shane are nominated for best on-screen partnership and best actress and best actor respectively. The plot is also nominated for best storyline. Rival soap Coronation Street is also recognised with its special live episode marking its 50th anniversary picking up nominations for best single episode and spectacular scene of the year. Corrie received 17 nominations, more than any other soap. Elsewhere, Coronation Street newcomer Chris Fountain, who plays bad boy Tommy Duckworth, faces a battle with fellow Weatherfield heartthrob Keith Duffy (Ciaran McCarthy), EastEnders' Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) and Emmerdale's Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) for sexiest male soap star. Michelle Keegan, who plays barmaid Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street, will face the Street's feisty factory boss Carla Connor (played by Alison King), Hollyoaks' star Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen) and EastEnders' actress Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell) in the contest to be crowned sexiest soap female. The awards, hosted by Phillip Schofield, will be held in Manchester later this month. Read the British Soap Awards nominations in full HERE.
