Much-loved and long-serving TV extras from the nation’s favourite soaps are to finally get the recognition they deserve with the first ever award solely dedicated to celebrating their craft.
PlayOJO, the fair casino, which is challenging the UK online casino market to be fair and transparent has launched the TV Soap Extra of the Year Award 2018 in a bid to address the lack of acknowledgement for supporting artists ahead of this year’s British Soap Awards, which doesn’t recognise extras in a single category.
Antony Cotton who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street will present the award to the lucky winner along with tickets to the British Soap Awards. Anthony comments: “I see every day the level of enthusiasm and hard work supporting artists bring to the set, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to acknowledge them for the great work they do. I’m looking forward to seeing who the country votes for!”
The PlayOJO TV Soap Extra of the Year 2018 nominees are announced as:
The Underworld knicker stitcher
Adam Blease has featured on Corrie for more than a decade, his character, Dirk, works as a knicker stitcher in the Underworld factory. A favourite amongst Corrie’s devoted fan base, ‘Dirk’ even has his own dedicated Twitter page.
The Corrie couple
Joel David and Maureen Seaberg hold the unique record of being the longest serving married couple on the world’s longest running TV soap, Coronation Street, first stepping foot on the famous cobbles together back in 1973. They have been drinking in the Rovers Return and eating a ‘full English’ breakfast in Roy’s Rolls for 41 years.
Winston, the EastEnders market trader
TV fans may recognise actor Ulric Browne from other roles, including The Bill, but he is best known for playing Winston, a trader on Walford’s market. Ulric has held the role since 1986 and, although he only has the odd line, hard-core Eastenders fans still love him.
The unlucky waitress who’s seen her pub AND restaurant burn down
Gemma has been a Hollyoaks extra since she was 17, namely as a barmaid in the Dog in the Pond. However, after a dramatic fire saw the pub burn down she moved to Tony’s Ill Gnosh restaurant. Despite working her socks off at Tony’s, job number two came to an end when it was also burnt down! Gemma now takes on the role of a nurse in Hollyoaks Hospital and gets a variety of speaking parts.
The bobby who’s worked a few beats
Colin James Murtagh has featured in a number of the UK’s favourite soaps, including Hollyoaks, Holby City, Coronation Street and Casualty, and is most likely to be found playing a copper. This hard-working TV veteran loves the business and has cropped up in many memorable episodes over the year.
The vote has been put to the public through the PlayOJO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PlayOJO/posts/583330712036868, with the additional option of emailing your vote to [email protected].
The winning supporting artist will receive The PlayOJO UK TV Soap Extra of the Year Award 2018, along with tickets to the British Soap Awards being held on Saturday 2nd June 2018. In addition, one voter will be selected at random to receive two tickets to The British Soap Awards.
