Shane is toast of soap awards

Shane Richie was the toast of EastEnders today after he picked up five nominations for the Inside Soap Awards.

The actor – who plays Queen Vic landlord Alfie Moon – ties with Coronation Street’s Suranne Jones for most nominations for the annual bash.

The pair are up for sexiest male and sexiest female at the awards event, which takes place on September 29.

Bad boys Brian Capron (Corrie’s Richard Hillman) and Steve McFadden (Albert Square’s Phil Mitchell) battle it out for the best actor prize – along with Dean Sullivan (Brookside), Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street) and Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale).

EastEnders’ Jessie Wallace (who plays Kat Slater) goes up against her on-screen sister Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) for the best actress title.

Also contesting the award are Suranne Jones (who plays Karen McDonald), Emmerdale’s Leah Bracknell and Kym Valentine from Neighbours.

Up for best soap this year are EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Neighbours.

Battling it out with Richie for sexiest male are Keith Duffy (Coronation Street), Nigel Harman (EastEnders), Ben Freeman (Emmerdale) and Blair McDonough (Neighbours).

The sexiest female contenders are Jones, Jessie Wallace, Amy Nuttall (Emmerdale), Emily Symons (Emmerdale) and Elize Du Toit (Hollyoaks).

There are 15 categories in all. The show will be broadcast by LivingTV on October 1.

Inside Soap editor Steven Murphy said: “It’s going to be bigger and more star-studded than ever, and a real celebration of the cream of British soap.”