Michelle Keegan is set to remain the reigning Sexiest Female at the British Soap Awards – after the category has been axed.

The former Coronation Street star won the award for the sixth time in a row last year – but as the long list of nominations were announced for 2015, it was revealed the Sexiest Male and Sexiest Female awards have been dropped.

Danny Dyer
EastEnder Danny Dyer is among the nominees for Best Actor (Yui Mok/PA)

In another change to the awards this year, the Best Actor and Best Actress categories will be partly decided by a judging panel. The overall winners will now be decided 50:50 between the public vote and the judges’ decision.

Three actors and actress have been chosen from each soap, Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.

A picture of Kym Marsh at the National Television Awards
Corrie’s Kym Marsh is in the running for Best Actress (Ian West/PA Archive)

The long-list of nominees in the viewer-voted categories are now open to the public on the British Soap Awards official website.

Best Actor

  • David Neilson, who plays Roy Cropper in Coronation Street
  • Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald in Coronation Street
  • Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt in Coronation Street
  • Owen Brenman, who plays Heston Carter in Doctors
  • Adrian Lewis Morgan, who plays Jimmi Clay in Doctors
  • Ian Midlane, who plays Al Haskey in Doctors
  • Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter in EastEnders
  • Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick Trueman in EastEnders
  • Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders
  • Michael Parr, who plays Ross Barton in Emmerdale
  • Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden in Emmerdale
  • Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Livesy in Emmerdale
  • Charlie Clapham, who plays Freddie Roscoe in Hollyoaks
  • Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne in Hollyoaks
  • Kieron Richardson, who plays Ste Hay in Hollyoaks

Best Actress

  • Alison King, who plays Carla Connor in Coronation Street
  • Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor in Coronation Street
  • Debbie Rush, who plays Anna Windass in Coronation Street
  • Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, who plays Zara Carmichae lin Doctors
  • Jessica Regan, who plays Niamh Donoghue in Doctors
  • Lorna Laidlaw, who plays Mrs Tembe in Doctors
  • Laurie Brett, who plays Jane Beale in EastEnders
  • Kellie Bright, who plays Linda Carter in EastEnders
  • Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Moon in EastEnders
  • Verity Rushworth, who plays Donna Windsor in Emmerdale
  • Natalie Anderson, who plays Alicia Metcalfe in Emmerdale
  • Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel Dingle in Emmerdale
  • Alex Fletcher, who plays Diane O’Connor in Hollyoaks
  • Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks
  • Nikki Sanderson, who plays Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks

Best British Soap

  • Coronation Street
  • Doctors
  • EastEnders
  • Emmerdale
  • Hollyoaks
Phillip Schofield (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Phillip Schofield will host the awards (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The first round of voting will close on Tuesday, April 21 at midday. The second round of voting will open on Monday, April 27, when the top five choices for the Best Actor and Best Actress categories will be revealed.

All five soaps will remain in the running until voting closes for the final time on Friday, May 15 at 3pm.

The British Soap Awards 2015, hosted by Phillip Schofield, are taking place in Manchester on Saturday May 16 and will be broadcast on ITV.