Coronation Street’s Alison King could leave the cobbles on a high if she wins the best actress gong at the British Soap Awards.

Her character Carla Connor has departed the show on a downbeat note, tearfully driving away from Weatherfield after a disastrously short marriage to Nick Tilsley (Ben Price).

Alison King as Carla and Richard Hawley as Johnny in Coronation Street (ITV)
Alison King as Carla and Richard Hawley as Johnny in Coronation Street (ITV)

But Alison, who played Carla for a decade, could have cause to celebrate if she beats fellow nominees including EastEnders’ Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning) and Rakhee Thakrar (Shabnam Masood).

Emmerdale’s Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle) and Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen) are also on the shortlist.

Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter as Chas Dingle
Emmerdale’s Lucy Pargeter as Chas Dingle (ITV)

The 18th annual celebration of the nation’s biggest and most-loved continuing dramas takes place on Saturday at London’s Hackney Empire Theatre, with soap stars arriving on the red carpet at Hackney Town Hall next door.

In the best actor category, EastEnders star Danny Dyer could finally bag a British Soap Award. He was shortlisted in 2014 and 2015, but missed out both times.

Danny stars as Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter, a role which has already earned him two National Television Awards and an Inside Soap Award.

Mick Carter in front of the Queen Vic
Mick Carter in front of the Queen Vic (BBC)

The much-loved actor is up against Corrie’s Jack P Shepherd (David Platt), Emmerdale’s Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) and Hollyoaks duo Charlie Clapham (Freddie Roscoe) and Kieron Richardson (Ste Hay).

Best actor and best actress are viewer-voted prizes, alongside best British soap.

Coronation Street, Doctors, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks will all be hoping to win the crown from BBC One rival EastEnders, which was last year’s recipient.

Danny Dyer accepts the Serial Drama Award during the 2015 National Television Awards
Danny Dyer accepts the serial drama award during the 2015 National Television Awards (Yui Mok/PA)

Among the categories which will be decided by a panel of experts, best newcomer sees former X Factor winner Shayne Ward face off against ex-child star Bonnie Langford.

Coronation Street star Shayne, who won the talent show in 2005, has made an impact as Carla’s half-brother Aidan Connor on Corrie.

Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward performs in 2006 during the X Factor 2 Live, at the MEN Arena in Manchester (Dave Kendall/PA)

He will face competition for the award from EastEnders’ Bonnie (Carmel Kazemi), who first came to the public’s attention after winning Opportunity Knocks at the age of six in the early 1970s.

Bonnie and Shayne will compete against Doctors’ Bharti Patel (Ruhma Hanif), Emmerdale’s Isobel Steele (Liv Flaherty) and Hollyoaks’ Duayne Boachie (Zack Loveday).

Hosted by Phillip Schofield, the British Soap Awards will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday.