After a one-year hiatus, the British Soap Awards returned in spectacular fashion in 2025, celebrating the best of the UK’s cherished serial dramas. The star-studded ceremony took place on Saturday, May 31, at London’s Hackney Empire, before airing on ITV on Thursday, June 5. Hosted once again by singer Jane McDonald, the event saw the nation’s favourite soaps—EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks—compete for top honours in a night filled with emotion, drama, and memorable moments.
EastEnders emerged as the undisputed champion of the evening, bagging an impressive eight awards, including the highly coveted Best British Soap trophy. The BBC One soap’s success was a fitting tribute to its 40th anniversary year, which featured explosive storylines and the return of iconic characters. The anniversary week was marked by the dramatic destruction of the Queen Vic and the surprise reappearance of Angie Watts, whose ghostly return clinched the Scene of the Year award.
Among EastEnders’ many accolades, Steve McFadden was honoured with Best Dramatic Performance for his portrayal of Phil Mitchell’s harrowing mental health battle. This powerful storyline, which included a standout episode featuring Phil’s psychosis and hallucinations of the Mitchell family home in 1985, also won Best Single Episode. The show’s gripping narratives resonated deeply with viewers and critics alike, earning Navin Chowdhry the Villain of the Year award for his role as the manipulative Nish Panesar.
EastEnders also secured Best Leading Performer with Lacey Turner’s portrayal of Stacey Slater, Best Comedy Performance for Patsy Palmer’s Bianca Jackson, and Best On-Screen Partnership for Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter as Patrick and Yolande Trueman. The Slater family was recognised as Best Family, rounding off a dominant night for the soap.
Hollyoaks followed with three significant wins, all tied to its groundbreaking sibling sexual abuse storyline. This powerful narrative, which delves into the rarely discussed issue of abuse between siblings, won Best Storyline. Actress Isabelle Smith, who plays Frankie Osborne at the centre of the plot, was awarded Best Newcomer for her compelling performance. The Osborne family was also named Best Family, highlighting the show’s commitment to tackling difficult subjects with sensitivity and impact.
The importance and authenticity of Hollyoaks’ storyline were underscored by the involvement of the charity SARSAS, which advised on the scripts and helped the cast portray the issue accurately. Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers emphasised the significance of shedding light on sibling sexual abuse, saying, “It’s one of the most infrequently disclosed forms of sexual abuse, yet the statistics are startling. We need to get this conversation started amongst our multi-generational audience.” Channel 4’s commissioning executive Ben Wadey added that the storyline aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma around this under-discussed topic.
Emmerdale secured two awards, with 16-year-old Amelia Flanagan winning Best Young Performer for her role as April Windsor. The Tony Warren Award, which recognises outstanding off-screen achievement, was presented to veteran Emmerdale cameraman Mike Plant. Despite the soap’s long-standing popularity, Emmerdale’s wins were fewer compared to previous years.
Coronation Street had a quieter night, taking home just one award: the Outstanding Achievement Award, presented to David Neilson for his portrayal of Roy Cropper. Neilson’s remarkable career on the soap spans nearly three decades, and the award was presented by Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Roy’s late wife Hayley Cropper, adding an emotional touch to the ceremony.
The ceremony was not without hiccups, however. Viewers tuning in to the broadcast on June 5 experienced frustration when a technical glitch caused a six-minute disruption early in the show. ITV promptly issued an apology, stating, “We’re sorry for the disruption.” Fans took to social media to express their bewilderment and disappointment, especially since the event was pre-recorded and not live. Despite the interruption, the show resumed smoothly and continued to celebrate the achievements of the soap world.
One of the ceremony’s standout moments was a special tribute to Denise Welch, who made history by becoming the only actor to have had major roles in all four major British soaps: Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, EastEnders, and Emmerdale. Presented alongside Martin Kemp, Welch received a unique “CHEE” award, symbolising her connection to each show with iconic memorabilia—a cobblestone from Coronation Street, a Dingle wellie from Emmerdale, a label from The Dog in the Pond pub in Hollyoaks, and one of Pat Butcher’s legendary earrings from EastEnders. Welch graciously accepted the award, joking, “I was gonna say, when they ask, ‘Who do you want to win Best Soap?’ I say, ‘Well, I don’t mind because I’ve been in all of them.’” Fans quickly shared their delight and amusement on social media.
The British Soap Awards have long been a highlight of the UK television calendar, celebrating the highs and lows of beloved serial dramas. The 2025 ceremony not only honoured exceptional acting and storytelling but also showcased the soaps’ willingness to tackle challenging social issues with nuance and bravery. From EastEnders’ powerful mental health narratives to Hollyoaks’ groundbreaking exploration of sibling sexual abuse, the event underscored the genre’s vital role in reflecting and shaping public conversations.
For those who missed the live broadcast or want to relive the moments, the British Soap Awards 2025 are available to stream on ITVX, ensuring fans can celebrate the best of soapland at their leisure.
