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ITV's rural soap Emmerdale has received the most shortlist nominations for this year's British Soap Awards.
The shortlist comprises the standard 15 nominations per eligible UK soap - Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - in the usual viewer-voted categories: 'Sexiest Male', 'Sexiest Female', 'Villain of the Year', 'Best Actor' and 'Best Actress'.
Each show is also automatically nominated for the elusive 'Best Soap' trophy.
While the public vote determines the result of six awards, winners in the remaining 11 categories - which include 'Best Dramatic Performance', 'Best Storyline' and 'Best Newcomer' - are decided by a panel.
From the 36 nominations, Emmerdale appears in each of the nine categories. Coronation Street and EastEnders, meanwhile, notched up eight apiece. Doctors secured six, while Hollyoaks has five.
This year, Hollyoaks notably failed to receive nominations in the 'Best Storyline' and 'Best Single Episode' categories, while Coronation Street has no candidate in the 'Best Newcomer' stakes, last year won by Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor).
Winners of the 'Lifetime Achievement' and 'Special Achievement' awards are also discussed by the panel.
The twelfth annual British Soap Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday and will transmit on Wednesday, May 19 on ITV1.
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Doctors stars Chris Walker and Jan Pearson have spoken about their on-screen chemistry.
The pair, who play on-screen couple Sergeant Rob Hollins and receptionist Karen, were recently nominated in the 'Best On-Screen Partnership' category for the British Soap Awards.
Describing their first scenes together, Walker said: "First day on set, in fact first scene it was, 'Hi I'm Chris', 'Hi I'm Jan', right get into bed. So that broke the ice."
When asked why they work so well together on the serial, he explained: "I think that we're not precious with our own stuff and we always want to give and help each other and that's nice, and we do row very well."
Meanwhile, the star also revealed that members of the public often mistake the Doctors set for a real surgery: "You can see it from the road, so it's understandable."
Pearson added: "And it just says 'the Mill Surgery', so why wouldn't you pop in? It happens on a regular basis."
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EastEnders star Charlie G. Hawkins has revealed that he is hoping to see Lacey Turner triumph at the British Soap Awards.
Turner is in the running for the 'Best Actress' and 'Best Dramatic Performance' prizes at tomorrow night's ceremony.
The nominations follow an eventful year for the actress's Walford character Stacey Branning, which has seen the market trader being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, lose husband Bradley and be unveiled as the killer of villain Archie Mitchell.
Speaking to The Sun about his co-star's BSA nods, Hawkins - who plays young dad Darren Miller - commented: "It would be great to see her win one of them."
Turner recently announced that she is to leave her role as Stacey after almost six years in Albert Square.
Tomorrow's British Soap Awards ceremony takes place in London and will be broadcast on ITV1 later this month.
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Emmerdale deserves the most awards this year, consistently good and my fave soap now!
Hollyoaks is absolute tosh nowadays and deserves nothing.
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Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan has admitted that she does not expect to win the 'Sexiest Female' prize at the British Soap Awards.
The 22-year-old received the accolade at the 2009 ceremony and is also in the running for this year's gong.
However, in recent months, fans have seen the actress's character Tina McIntyre appearing less glamorous as she deals with the loss of her dad Joe.
Speaking to the Daily Star about her chances of victory, Keegan commented: "I've got depression on the Street so I don't think anyone will be finding me very sexy right now. I was lucky to get it once so there isn't much chance I will get it second time around."
Keegan, who made her Weatherfield debut in 2008, has also been nominated in the 'Best Actress' category this year.
Reflecting on the nod, she said: "As a new actress to come into a huge programme like Coronation Street and to be up for 'Best Actress' two years down the line is a massive thing for me. It feels like I have been accepted."
The British Soap Awards take place in London tomorrow night.
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Emmerdale actor Danny Miller has predicted that the show has "a good chance" of securing some prizes at the British Soap Awards.
ITV's rural serial has received the most shortlist nods ahead of tonight's ceremony, appearing in every single category this year.
The Yorkshire-based drama's success in the nominations list follows a period of reinvention which has been steered by series producer Gavin Blyth since he took office in January 2009.
Speaking to DS about the British Soap Awards, Miller commented: "I genuinely don't think that any other soap has improved as much as Emmerdale has this year.
"It'd be nice to get some acknowledgement for the hard work we've put in, so yeah, I think we have a good chance. And it's incredible that we've managed to get nominations in every single category - we're the only soap that has.
"Hopefully we will win something this year. Eventually, it'll become a bit boring EastEnders and Coronation Street winning all the time. It's almost like we're extras!"
Miller, who plays troubled Aaron Livesy, is in the running for the 'Best Actor' and 'Best Dramatic Performance' awards. Additionally, his character's gay plot is up for 'Best Storyline'.
