The recent news that Emmerdale and Coronation Street are set to collaborate in a never-been-done-before crossover episode was one of the major talking points on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards this evening.

Of course, having already compiled a list of the character interactions I’m most keen to see, I wanted to know what the cast members themselves had to say.

While most of the stars I chatted to enthusiastically gave me a name or two of who they’d like to share the screen with, Vanessa Woodfield actress Michelle Hardwick came prepared with an entire storyline!

‘Okay, it’s got to be with DS Swain,’ she told me with very little hesitation.

Fans have often picked up on the similarities between Vanessa and Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), pointing out that they dress almost exactly the same – something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the actors themselves.

‘I think there’s possibly some long-lost sister thing going on or something. There’d have to be some history there, definitely! Because we even dress the same! We can’t deny it, we do. It’s not us. It’s the costume department.

‘We do laugh about it. Me and Vicky will DM each other or message each other and I’ll be like “Literally, we’re wearing the same thing tonight in this episode”. It’s dead funny.’

Amazingly, when I asked Vicky the same question earlier in the evening, she was very much on the same page.

‘Maybe Michelle. They both have a similar style, with the shirt and the vest,’ she said.

With the crossover episode set to launch storylines that will have on-going repercussions in both soaps, could Michelle be onto something?

Could we be set to get the first cross-soap family?

It is clear that Vicky and Michelle get on well, and despite the fact that they’re both the captains of the rival soap netball teams, Michelle assured me that the rivalry stays on the pitch. Court? I write about soaps, I don’t know.

‘We were stood having drinks earlier together. It’s just gorgeous. I love all the Corrie cast as much as I love the Emmerdale cast.