The British Soap Awards 2008!

The British Soap Awards 2008 is back TONIGHT and, celebrating its 10th anniversary, the ceremony is set to be bigger than ever as it looks back over another year of tears, trials, tribulations and tantrums from the nation’s biggest TV shows.

Entries from the five biggest soaps are eligible – Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – and stars from all five will don their finest on the night for what promises to be one of the award calendar’s most glamorous occasions.

Hosted by This Morning presenters Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield with awards being presented by some of the entertainment world’s most famous faces, there’s everything to play for in the soap world’s ‘oscars’.

Phil and Fern are both looking forward to this year’s show. Fern says: “I love the Soap Awards and am just as excited this year, even though it’s my third year of presenting it with Phillip! It’s the highlight of the year for me and to stand in front of an audience of very famous people and iconic characters is just fantastic.”

Phillip adds: “It’s the best party in town! Because the soap teams work so hard and it seems that they work harder every year, this is the one night they can truly let their hair down. They party like no other people I have ever come across.

After the awards have finished, I briefly go into the party, do a circuit and get out before it gets messy!”

When asked if she will be wearing a revealing dress Fern laughs: “If I was as youthful and had such gravity defying bosoms as Holly (Willoughby) I would be doing that but I shall leave that to Holly as she’s gorgeous. I’m not wearing anything that’s too plunging but it’s a very nice dress with a lot of sequins on it.”

Both Phil and Fern are soap fans and reveal which cameo role in a soap they would like to do.

Fern says: “Well it’s no secret I’m very fond of Coronation Street and so I think I’d like to move in with Ken and Deirdre. Perhaps I’m a visiting salesman and my hotel was overbooked and they kindly let me stay for the night and I try to seduce Ken of course!” While Phil says: “Well, I’m too old for Hollyoaks for a start! I think I might play either a tramp in the Square or be temp staff in the Rovers Return.”

The British Soap Awards honour outstanding achievement in the country’s most popular television genre. There are 17 awards and the categories are voted for either by a panel of expert judges or by the public. They include Sexiest Male and Female, Best Actor and Actress, Best Comedy Performance, Villain of the Year, Spectacular Scene of the Year, Best On-Screen Partnership and the ultimate accolade, Best British Soap which was won by Coronation Street last year. There is also an annual Lifetime Achievement which is awarded to an individual who has displayed lifelong dedication to the genre. Previous winners include Coronation Street’s Johnny Briggs and EastEnders’ Wendy Richards.

And Michael Underwood and Caroline Flack all the gossip from stars and the after show party on ITV2’s The British Soap Awards: The Party.