BBC show Eastenders had a great night at this year's British Soap Awards

Eastenders cleaned up at the British Soap Awards this weekend taking home a total of 10 awards, including the coveted prize for Best Soap.

The BBC soap opera, which celebrated its 25^th anniversary earlier this year with a live episode, is due to say goodbye to some of its best loved characters this year as legendary actress Barbara Windsor who plays Peggy Mitchell and Lacey turner who plays Stacey Branning have announced they are exiting the programme.

22-year-old Lacey was one of the big winners of the night scooping the gong for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, the latter of which was determined by a public vote. Fellow Eastender Scott Maslen also took home two trophies including the award for Sexiest Male and Best Actor.

Eastenders writers were celebrating after winning the Best Storyline award for “Who killed Archie Mitchell?”

A tribute was also played to the much-loved Coronation Street actress Maggie Jones who played Blanche in the Soap. The veteran actress had been a regular on the show since 1996 but died at the age of 75 last year. 89-year-old actress Betty Driver was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award for her role in the Manchester based soap.

Emmerdale were saved from the shame of walking away without a single gong after writer Bill Lyons received a special achievement award.