EastEnders star urges you to vote Steve McFadden despite being up for the same soap award

Soap actors everywhere are flooding their Instagram stories with gorgeous press images, links to shortlists and flashy graphics urging you to vote for them at the upcoming National Television Awards, but not EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa!

Jacqueline, who stars a  Lauren Branning has taken to her Instagram story to urge fans not to vote for her and, instead, vote for her co-star, Steve McFadden in the serial drama performance category at the NTA’s.

Alongside the ‘Enders duo, Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle) and Coronation Street’s Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) and Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster) are all in contention for the trophy.

Taking to her Instagram story, Jacqueline expressed gratitude for the kinda messages she received in the aftermath of the nominations being announced.

‘Thank you to everyone who has messaged or shared, the kind words are lovely, I’ve seen them and I appreciate them.’ she said.

‘I’m over the moon to be short-listed for serial drama performance. It is a huge moment for me. I am of course still rooting for the one and only Steve McFadden as I truly feel it’s his year and I’d hate for EastEnders fans to split the vote and then he doesn’t win!’

He deserves it so much. I am more than happy with a nomination. Maybe next time babe.

I just wanted to say vote everything EastEnders at the NTAs. Thank you again for your lovely words and congratulations. I see you.’

Steve’s character, Phil Mitchell has undergone somewhat of a renaissance of late.

When fans had seemingly grown tired of his crime-based and gangland focussed plots, ‘Enders bossed pivoted and took Phil in an entirely new direction.

Phil became the central focus of a mental health storyline when his loneliness eventually gave way to a deep depression and psychosis-induced hallucinations.

He eventually made the heart breaking decision to end his own life.

‘Steve’s performance is nothing short of extraordinary and has thoughtfully portrayed the complex realities of depression, and the experience of psychotic symptoms, with compassion and understanding,’ said ‘Enders then-boss, Chris Clenshaw, at the time.

Phil sought in-patient treatment for his mental health following his aborted suicide attempt, featuring in a special episode that focussed on his experience within the unit.

Following his recovery, Phil became embroiled in Nigel Bates’ (Paul Bradley) early-onset dementia story, taking him in to his home and becoming his primary source of support, revealing a much softer side to him.

With the return of Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and the duos opposing views on Nigel’s care, views are still relishing seeing Phil leave behind the gangster stories and show much more heart and humanity.

Although Jacqueline has unequivocally thrown her support behind her cast mate, she’s had quite the year herself.

Since her surprise return as Lauren Branning and now a part of the revitalised Beale clan alongside on/off love interest Peter Beale (Thomas Law), there’s been no shortage of drama for the older Branning sister.

Following a crowd crush at Peggy’s left her with devastating injuries and struggling to manage her pain, Lauren found herself descending into addiction with pain killers, made even more complicated due to her pregnancy.

When baby Jimmy was born, Lauren was the first to nice something was possible wrong with his eyesight.

Though other characters suspected post-natal depression, Jimmy was letter diagnosed with a visual impairment, leading to a heart breaking scene as she begged for forgiveness from her son, determined that her addiction had caused this.

Though it was later proven that addiction couldn’t have caused the disability, viewers heaped praise on Jacqueline for her performance in the story, which continued in dramatic fashion when both of her children vanished.