The 2015 Royalty Soapie Awards will see SA's soapie stars honoured

This annual celebration of South Africa’s dynamic and multi-faceted soapie landscape will also showcase a selection of eThekwini’s music trailblazers as well as acts from the rest of the country.

Taking centre stage will be the likes of DJ Merlon featuring Mondli Ngcobo, who will be performing their smash hit Koze Kuse on the night. Also from KwaZulu-Natal, the sensational 20-member Durban Gospel Choir are guaranteed to bring the house down with their rousing a cappella singing. Sensational R&B/house singer Bucie will also be in the house.

Expect the comedy duo of Goliath & Goliath – the hilarious Jason and Donovan – to keep the quips and gags coming thick and fast as MCs during the awards ceremony. And then, of course, there’s the main attraction: the Royalty Soapie Awards themselves.

It’s poised to be a tough and closely fought race, with Isibaya and Scandal vying for top honours with 16 nominations each – and 7de Laan nipping at their heels with 14 nods.

This year will feature an added element of suspense, as viewers were asked to vote for their favourite actors and actresses after the judging panel narrowed down the field to five finalists in each of the seven performance categories. The coveted People’s Choice Award for Most Popular Soapie will also be handed out on the night.

Who will be named best newcomer, and which screen baddies will be able to add the distinction of Outstanding Male Villain and Outstanding Female Villain to their CVs? Which leading and supporting actors will be toasted for bringing colour and flavour to our TV screens – and which soapies will take home the laurels in the all-important (but often under-appreciated) technical and creative categories?

SMS voting lines closed on Friday, 20 March, but all will be revealed at the Royalty Soapie Awards will also present two Lifetime Achievement Awards to a veterans of the South African television industry.

The Royalty Soapie Awards 2015 has partnered with KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, the National Department of Arts and Culture, and Mzanzi Magic and Ukhozi FM are the broadcast partners while SMG - BMW Durban will drive nominees in style.

For more information on the Royalty Soapie Awards, visit www.royaltysa.com.