British Soap Awards 2023: Claire Sweeney and Danielle Harold lead the glam in figure hugging dresses

THE country's biggest soap stars brought the glam to this year's British Soap Awards red carpet tonight.

The annual soap ceremony is taking place in Manchester this evening, with the televised broadcast airing on Tuesday.

Jane McDonald has stepped in as the host of the British Soap Awards following Phillip Schofield's resignation from This Morning and ITV.

Despite the drama happening off-screen ahead of the ceremony, soaps biggest stars were all smiles as they hit the red carpet.

Claire Sweeney - who will make her debut in Coronation Street very soon - was one of the first to arrive.

The 52-year-old looked sensational in a figure-hugging tangerine off-the-shoulder gown which featured gold detailing at the shoulder and hip.

Her Corrie co-star Charlotte Jordan - who plays Daisy Midgeley - also opted for a close fitting gown, wearing a dusty pink strapless dress which she teamed with a statement bag.

Flying the flag for Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, Nikki Sanderson showed off her incredible figure in a shimmering jumpsuit, which featured a plunging neckline.

Her co-star Jennifer Metcalfe also opted for trousers over a dress, wearing a tight black pair with a black bandeau top with a twist at the cleavage.

Also choosing black was Chelsee Healy, who plays Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks.

She wore a gothic style gown which featured a lace and corset bodice, lace tights and black hot pants underneath, with a net train.

Jennifer and Chelsee posed alongside their pal and colleague Jorgie Porter, who wore a short white strapless dress with a fringed hemline.

Also opting for a lighter colour was EastEnders star Danielle Harold, whose character Lola Pearce died in heartbreaking scenes this week.

Danielle looked sensational in a white lace gown which featured a nude background and thigh-high split.

With glam Hollywood style waves in her blonde hair and a bold red lip, Danielle is certainly bowing out of the soap world in style.

Her co-star Emma Barton - who plays Honey Mitchell - also opted for a neutral colour in a pretty cream floating gown which featured intricate floral detailing.

The women posed with their on-screen partners, Jamie Borthwick and Perry Fenwick for a soap family snap before heading into the ceremony.

Also flying the flag for EastEnders was Shona McGarty, who wowed in a shimmering midnight blue gown with a thigh high split and low cut neckline.

Also opting for a blue gown was Corrie's Cait Fitton, who played Lauren Bolton in the ITV soap until earlier this year.

Cait wore a blue satin gown which featured a thigh high split and thin straps with a corset-style bodice.

Other colourful ensembles came from Corrie's Tina O'Brien, who wore a pale pink gown which featured a one shoulder semi-cape sleeve detail and a gathering at the waist.

Tina, who plays Sarah Barlow, wore her blonde hair in a middle parting, slicked down and tucked behind her ears to show off her statement earrings.

Keeping up with her character's name of Summer, fellow Corrie star Harriet Bibby looked cute in a short bright yellow mini dress with full skirt.

She completed the look with pink satin heels and a matching pink heart-shaped handbag.

Meanwhile Hollyoaks' Kirsty Leigh Porter opted for a multicoloured satin mini dress which featured a large cutout across her decolletage.

Her co-star Jemma Donovan - who made her red carpet debut with her real life boyfriend Owen Warner - wore a striking red dress with a low cut neckline.

Meanwhile, it seems the Emmerdale ladies all got the memo to wear sily numbers.

While Isobel Hodgins - who plays Victoria Barton - opted for a metallic green dress, her co-star Eden Taylor Draper wore a lingerie-style baby pink gown.

The Belle Dingle actress' dress featured bra style straps and cupes with an orange trim and she accessorised with a small designer handbag.

Also attending from the Dales was Daisy Campbell, who plays Amelia Spencer.

She wore a strapless light gold column dress and accessorised with a metallic handbag and gold jewellery.

However, a number of actresses opted for a classic black gown, particularly the stars of EastEnders.

Jessie Wallace - who plays Kat Slater - chose an off the shoulder dress which she teamed with a waist belt over the top.

Co-star Gillian Taylforth wore a risque gown which featured a plunging sheer panel at the front, while Diane Parish opted for a black gown that had a peplum waist.

Meanwhile Lorraine Stanley continued to blow EastEnders' viewers minds at how different she looks to her character Karen Taylor in a chic black dress with capped slit sleeves.

The British Soap Awards airs on Tuesday, June 6 at 8pm on ITV1.