[Scarlett.]

The British Soap Awards are to undergo a surprise shake-up this year, with the Sexiest Male and Sexiest Female prizes axed.

The two categories have been present throughout the 16-year history of the awards, but will not be part of the 2015 ceremony.

Sexiest Male and Sexiest Female were two of the awards voted for by viewers each year, alongside Best Actor, Best Actress, Villain of the Year and the coveted prize for Best British Soap.

Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) claimed the Sexiest Female prize for the sixth consecutive year in 2014, while Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac (Dodger Savage) was the most recent Sexiest Male victor. Both have since left their respective soaps.

While the 'sexy' categories have been dropped, 2015's ceremony will see the introduction of a brand new award, which will reward the best portrayal of issue-based storylines.

A British Soap Awards spokesperson told the Daily Star Sunday: "We've refreshed some of the voting categories to ensure the awards remain as relevant and popular as the soaps."

The British Soap Awards 2015 will take place in Manchester on Saturday, May 16 and will once again be a battle between Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and daytime drama Doctors.

Longlist voting will open on Monday (March 30) via the British Soap Awards website.

Digital Spy

[Smithy]

best portrayal of issue-based storylines.

bet steves depression gets this one

[LukeB]

Ummmm i wanted lauren branning to win sexiest female.. She should have won it last year

[Firewire]

Glad tbh, pointless awards

[Tom4784]

Poor Hollyoaks.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by LukeB

Ummmm i wanted lauren branning to win sexiest female.. She should have won it last year

Tbh if i was in a soap and i only got recognised for being good looking rather than my acting ability, i'd be a bit pissed of, i bet a lot of the actors are glad it's gone

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Tbh if i was in a soap and i only got recognised for being good looking rather than my acting ability, i'd be a bit pissed of, i bet a lot of the actors are glad it's gone

Fair point actually because michelle keegan can't act imo
Overrated woman because she is "attractive"

[MB.]

You mean they're getting rid of The Michelle Keegan Award now that Michelle Keegan's left? What a shocker.

[Gstar]

Carol's cancer or Linda's rape to win

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Germyle

Carol's cancer to win

Trust me, we all wanted the cancer to win.

[Gstar]

you're a horrid human

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Trust me, we all wanted the cancer to win.

omfg

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Germyle

Carol's cancer or Linda's rape to win

I doubt it will be Carol's cancer since it was ages ago, It will be Tegan's Cancer/Babyswap/1 million other storylines she has right no.

Here for Linda winning it

[Daniel-X]

The awards didn't really mean anything but it sort of seems a bit weird they axed it the year after Michelle Keegan left I think if she was still in Corrie it might still be appearing in the awards.

Here for Linda's rape winning the issue based storyline award. Kellie Bright is a fantastic actress and I really hope she wins best actress too.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Trust me, we all wanted the cancer to win.

Did they have to get rid of the sexiest female award? One of the Branning girls needed to win.

[armand.kay]

Lol hollyoaks won't get any awards now

[Mystic Mock]

It's the only thing Hollyoaks is good for.

[armand.kay]

eileen from Corrie to win best issue based story for her online dating experience?

[JoshBB]

fair enough. how can you award someone for something of which they have no control and is based on luck?

[Daniel.]

Hollyoaks always do the best issued based storylines, well used to anyway

[armand.kay]

Hollyoaks does a lot of issue-based storylines but the messy and awful acting just make it laughable.