The starlets of British soap operas turned out for their big night yesterday, showing plenty of flesh in their annual parade of short, sequinned dresses. And, of course, there was inevitably the actress who exposed just a little too much.

Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallet nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet for the British Soap Awards when one of the straps on her halterneck dress came loose.

Luckily, her co-star Verity Rushworth was on hand to spare the actress, who plays Jo Stiles, from too much embarrassment.

Emmerdale's Roxanne Pallett had a slight wardrobe malfunction and needed help from co-star Verity Rushworth to keep her dress on

As for the awards themselves – almost a sideshow compared to the daring fashions on show – it was Channel 4's sexy youth soap Hollyoaks that took most of the spoils.

The programme scooped six prizes, including best actor for Chris Fountain, who plays Justin Burton, and best actress for Emma Rigby, who plays Hannah Ashworth.

Less surprisingly, the show took the prize for sexiest female, courtesy of Roxanne McKee, who plays Louise Summers.

Hollyoaks scooped more awards than either EastEnders, which claimed four, or Coronation Street, with five.

Hollyoaks babe Ruth Metcalfe shimmered down the purple carpet while ex-Hollyoaks star Sarah-Jayne Dunn looked stunning in black

But despite the disappointing tally, BBC 1's flagship programme did claim the most prestigious prize of the night, for best soap.

And it performed considerably better than last year, when it collected just one award.

Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning, won best dramatic performance and Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown, took the award for best dramatic performance from a young actor.

The show also won best storyline, for Max and Stacey's affair.

EastEnders has been reinvigorated over the past 12 months, and in January featured the first ever episode to concentrate entirely on a single character, when Dot Branning, played by June Brown, recorded a personal message for her husband Jim, played by John Bardon, who was in hospital with a stroke.

And last month saw the return of Ricky Butcher, played by Sid Owen, and Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer, after nine years.

Coronation Street's award haul included best newcomer for Michelle Keegan, who plays Tina McIntrye, and best comedy performance for Maggie Jones as Blanche Hunt.

Rob James Collier, who plays Liam Connor, was named sexiest male, and Jack P. Shepherd, who plays David Platt, was best villain.

There was also a lifetime achievement Award for Liz Dawn, whose character Vera Duckworth was killed off in January after 34 years on the Street.

Emmerdale won two awards: for best single episode, and a special award for one of its producers, Tim Fee.

Newly single Kim Marsh wore a daring banana-coloured frock with Coronation Street's Vicky Binns opted for floor-length purple