THE red carpet was actually purple and sprinkled with silver stars, along with large numbers of the soap variety.

Recorded in London last Saturday evening, The British Soap Awards (ITV1, tonight, 8pm) are a big night out for cast members from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Doctors.

Some end up sipping bubbly after winning one of the 17 awards, while others wear the smile all losing nominees try to perfect. You may already know who won. If you don't, I won't spoil it - aside from revealing the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

As reported in the M.E.N. earlier this week, Vera Duckworth's status as soap royalty was confirmed when actress Liz Dawn received the award, along with a message from Prince Charles. Former co-star Kevin Kennedy, known to millions of Corrie fans as Curly Watts, read out the citation before presenting Liz with her accolade.

He explained how Vera first appeared in Weatherfield in 1974. "Harold Wilson was prime minister, The Osmonds were at number one with Love Me For A Reason, and Annie Walker was landlady of the Rovers Return.

"It was in Mike Baldwin's factory we first laid eyes on a character that would become, quite literally, soap royalty.

"She quickly moved into No 9 Coronation Street with her pigeon-loving husband Jack. And later, by their wayward teenager Terry."

Nation's imagination

He added: "Liz's portrayal of Vera Duckworth won her an army of fans as she captured the nation's imagination with Vera's colourful life From her belief that she was, in fact royalty, to her trials and tribulations with Jack and her extended screen family.

"In 2007, Jack and Vera decided to make the big move to Blackpool. But just six weeks before they were about to leave, tragedy struck and Vera died of a heart attack at home. Jack was at the pub - he returned to find his swamp duck has passed away."

Kevin added: "Liz had always been the consummate professional, especially when it comes to learning her lines. She would stick whole sections of her scripts on to any available prop, the back of beer mats, table cloths, cereal packets, other actors - anything she could find.

"So much, in fact, that one day someone moved one such prop by accident and the look on Liz's face as she realised her lines were no longer there was a pure picture. Millions of viewers turned in to watch her final scenes and the episode even set the news agenda for the day, with stories running on every channel."

As you will see tonight, Dallas star Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen, presented the Best Soap Award. She later told how she watched Corrie after appearing on stage alongside Suranne Jones last year in stage play Terms of Endearment.

"She had been in Coronation Street, so I had to turn it on to find out what it was all about," explained the American actress. "It's intense. The storylines are incredible, the acting is superb and I'm very impressed."

For all the latest news from the world of television, check out Ian Wylie's blog,  The Life of Wylie . Tweet