Coronation Street legend Anne Kirkbride is up for a British Soap Award nearly four months after her death.

The 60-year-old actress, who became a household favourite as Deidre Barlow, died in January. She had starred in the ITV soap for 44 years but had been away from the screen since last September following her diagnosis with cancer.

Kirkbride is nominated in the scene of the year category for the episode in which Deirdre threw a trifle – which were to be among her final scenes in Weatherfield.

Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre Barlow
Anne Kirkbride played Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street (ITV)

The emotional episode saw Deirdre hurl her trifle at a wall in anger before breaking down in the arms of husband Ken, and the scenes were filmed to allow Kirkbride to take an anticipated three-month break from the show.

They show Deirdre reaching breaking point after daughter-in-law Carla and daughter Tracy argue over Carla’s reluctance to speak to her imprisoned husband Peter on the phone.

Ken suggested that Deirdre stayed with her friend Bev for a while, and that was the last time Deirdre graced the cobbles.

Other scenes nominated for the award are the strictly dancing episode in Doctors, Kathy comes home in EastEnders, Donna’s goodbye in Emmerdale and the train crash in Hollyoaks.

Ian and Kathy before she was said to have been killed off (BBC)
Ian and Kathy Beale (BBC)

The 17th annual awards take place in Manchester on May 16.

The ceremony will look back on the murder, mystery, make-ups, break-ups, trials, tribulations and tears which have filled soapland over the past 12 months.

The award nominations are:

Best British soap:

(Continuum Attractions)
Coronation Street is nominated (Continuum Attractions)

Coronation Street

Doctors

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks.

Best actor:

EastEnders Danny Dyer Mick Carter
Danny Dyer has already won acting honours (BBC)

Coronation Street – Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald)

Coronation Street – David Neilson (Roy Cropper)

EastEnders – Danny Dyer (Mick Carter)

EastEnders – Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale)

Emmerdale – Michael Parr (Ross Barton).

Best actress:

Nikki Sanderson
Nikki Sanderson (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Coronation Street – Alison King (Carla Connor)

EastEnders – Kellie Bright (Linda Carter)

EastEnders – Laurie Brett (Jane Beale)

Emmerdale – Natalie Anderson (Alicia Metcalfe)

Hollyoaks – Nikki Sanderson (Maxine Minniver).

Villain of the year:

(ITV)
Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley (ITV)

Coronation Street – Sean Ward (Callum Logan)

Doctors – Daniel Schutzmann (Franc Christophe)

EastEnders – John Altman (Nick Cotton)

Emmerdale – Ryan Hawley (Robert Sugden)

Hollyoaks – Jeremy Sheffield (Patrick Blake).

Best comedy performance:

Sally Dynevor plays Sally Webster in Coronation Street (ITV)
Sally Dynevor plays Sally Webster in Coronation Street (ITV)

Coronation Street – Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster)

Doctors – Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman)

EastEnders – Tameka Empson (Kim Fox-Hubbard)

Emmerdale – Laura Norton (Kerry Wyatt)

Hollyoaks – Fabrizio Santino (David ‘Ziggy’ Roscoe).

Best newcomer:

Coronation Street – Sean Ward (Callum Logan)

Doctors – Jessica Regan (Niamh Donoghue)

EastEnders – Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi)

Emmerdale – Ryan Hawley (Robert Sugden)

Hollyoaks – Twinnie-Lee Moore (Porsche McQueen).

Best storyline:

Lucy Beale
Lucy Beale’s killer was uncovered during anniversary week on EastEnders (BBC)

Coronation Street – Steve and Michelle, hearts and minds

Doctors – Kevin and Poppy, underage girlfriend

EastEnders – Who killed Lucy?

Emmerdale – Donna’s demise

Hollyoaks – John Paul’s rape ordeal.

Best single episode:

Coronation Street – Rob’s confession

Doctors – Unfinished business

EastEnders – Episode 5,020, live

Emmerdale – Andy goes to the brink

Hollyoaks – Ste’s HIV diagnosis.

Best dramatic performance

Natalie Anderson
Natalie Anderson is up for an award (Ian West/PA)

Coronation Street – Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald)

Doctors – Lorna Laidlaw (Mrs Tembe)

EastEnders – Kellie Bright (Linda Carter)

Emmerdale – Natalie Anderson (Alicia Metcalfe)

Hollyoaks – Keith Rice (Finn O’Connor).

Best on-screen partnership:

Coronation Street – Sally Dynevor and Joe Duttine (Sally Webster and Tim Metcalfe)

Doctors – Ian Midlane and Jessica Regan (Al Haskey and Niamh Donoghue)

EastEnders – Laurie Brett and Adam Woodyatt (Jane Beale and Ian Beale)

Emmerdale – Verity Rushworth and Michael Parr (Donna Windsor and Ross Barton)

Hollyoaks – Ellis Hollins and Ruby O’Donnell (Tom Cunningham and Peri Lomax).

Best young performance:

Jack Carroll
Jack Carroll appeared in Doctors (Jon Furniss/Invision)

Coronation Street – Ellie Leach (Faye Windass)

Doctors – Jack Carroll (Peter Harker)

EastEnders – Eliot Carrington (Bobby Beale)

Emmerdale – Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor)

Hollyoaks – Ruby O’Donnell (Peri Lomax).

Scene of the year:

Coronation Street – Deirdre throws the trifle

Doctors – Strictly dancing

EastEnders – Kathy comes home

Emmerdale – Donna’s goodbye

Hollyoaks – The train crash.