The Best British Soap Award 2005

It’s the last day of looking at the nominees for the British Soap Awards, from hecklerspray and Betfair.com. We’ve been saving the most important award until last - the Best British Soap.

Everyone has their favourite soap. Northerners like Coronation Street, southerners prefer Eastenders. Farmers like Emmerdale. Doctors like Doctors. Young blonde indenti-teens like Hollyoaks. And then there’s Family Affairs, which we’re sure some people enjoy.

The nominees, and their current odds are:

Coronation Street - Highlight of the year? When the fat girl killed herself after she killed her Dad. Because it made goth-boy come back. And goths are funny. Current odds - 5/56

Eastenders - Highlight of the year? The introduction of Johnny Allen, the world’s most placid eastend gangland overlord. That and Dirty Old Den being getting punishment for being rude on a webcam. Current odds - 18/7

Emmerdale - Highlight of the year? Bringing Patsy Kensit in as the richest woman in the galaxy, and seeing her glare at all the cows in the farm. Current odds - 5/1

Hollyoaks - Highlight of the year? The news that they’ll be making more late-night episodes. Bumrape-a-go-go! Current odds - 7/2

Family Affairs - Highlight of the year? Beats us! A cat got run over the other day, apparently. That’ll do. Current odds - 28/5

Doctors - Highlight of the year? The episode with the Brownie leader who had tunnel vision. Though, to be fair, that was the only one we’ve ever seen. Current odds - 10/1

And that concludes the nominees. The ceremony itself should be fun to watch. The Eastenders and Coronation Street actors will be lording it up, screaming "Do you know who I am?" at each other, while the cast of Family Affairs will just be grateful for the free food.

Take a look at the ‘Special Bets’ section of Betfair.com to see if the odds change in the run-up to the awards. And plonk some money down on your favourite soap. Then give the winnings to charity. Just £5 a month will give a Family Affairs cast member the means to catch their own food.

[story by Stuart Heritage]