Blackpool-born soap siren Nikki on list for top soap actors’ award

Nikki was yesterday revealed as a candidate for the British Soap Awards’ best actress category, after long-list voting closed last Tuesday.

Now she’s lined up against fellow soap stars Laurie Brett as Jane Beale and Kellie Bright as Linda Carter from EastEnders, Alison King as Carla Connor in Coronation Street and Natalie Anderson as Alicia Metcalfe in Emmerdale.

Nikki joined Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks in 2012 as character Maxine Minniver, a character not too far removed from her former alter-ego, ditsy hairdresser Candice in Coronation Street.

Patrick Blake punishes Maxine Minniver for defending Dodger. Actor Jeremy Sheffield plays opposite Blackpool actress Nikki Sanderson, forcing her to eat

But her dramatic change from a cheeky and bubbly girl into a victim of domestic abuse and the mother of a Down Syndrome baby, has seen Nikki, who grew up in Bispham and Staining before the family moved to Bury, recognised for a host of awards.

She was named best actress at last year’s Inside Soap Awards, although she missed out on the trophy at the National TV Awards in January and at last year’s TV Choice Awards.

Visit www.britishsoapawards.tv to vote for free.