The British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards are an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom which honours the best moments in British soap operas. The ceremony is televised on ITV. The trophies given to the winners are made from metal and glass and have been manufactured by British firm Creative Awards since their inception. The majority of the awards are voted for by a panel of industry professionals, while certain awards including Best British Soap and Best Leading Performer are voted for by the general public.
History
The first British Soap Awards took place in 1999 and was presented by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who presented the awards until 2001. Matthew Kelly presented the 2002 awards, before being replaced by Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes in 2003. Paul O'Grady presented the awards between 2004 and 2005. Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton took over as presenters in 2006. Britton left in 2008, however Schofield continued to present the awards as a solo presenter until the 2022, as in May 2023, after presenting the ceremonies for 16 years, Schofield announced that he had quit. On 1 June 2023, it was announced that Jane McDonald would take over from Schofield as the new host of the awards.Although it is an ITV Studios production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre in London until 2009. The ceremonies have since been held at various locations in London and Manchester, including the Granada Studios, the London Studios, dock10, the Hackney Empire, the Palace Theatre and the Lowry. The four soap operas currently nominated for awards are Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Now-defunct soaps that were formerly nominated for awards are Brookside, Crossroads, Family Affairs, ''Night and Day and Doctors.
In 2016, it was announced that the award for outstanding achievement off-screen would be known as the Tony Warren Award following the death of Tony Warren, the creator of Coronation Street. On 1 May 2018, ITV announced that for the 20th anniversary of the show, it would be broadcast live for the first time on 2 June 2018. In March 2020, it was announced that the 2020 ceremony had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ITV instead aired a 60-minute special in its place titled The British Soap Awards Celebrates 21 Years'', narrated by presenter Phillip Schofield. In April 2021, it was announced that the 2021 ceremony had also been cancelled once again due to the pandemic.
In April 2022, it was confirmed that the British Soap Awards would be held in June 2022. They also announced the introduction of two new viewer-voted categories, Best Family and Best Leading Performer. With the introduction of the gender-neutral Best Leading Performer category, it was confirmed that the awards for Best Actress and Best Actor had been axed. Then in 2023, they reintroduced Villain of the Year as a viewer-voted category, as well as making the Best Young Performer award viewer-voted for the first time.
On 1 November 2023, the 2024 British Soap Awards were cancelled for an undisclosed reason by ITV. However, it was confirmed that they would return in 2025.
Categories
Current- Best British Soap
- Best Comedy Performance
- Best Dramatic Performance
- Best Family
- Best Leading Performer
- Best Newcomer
- Best On-Screen Partnership
- Best Single Episode
- Best Storyline
- Best Young Performer
- Scene of the Year
- Villain of the Year
- Outstanding Achievement Award
- Tony Warren Award
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Bitch
- Best Exit
- Best Foreign Soap
- Best Female Dramatic Performance
- Best Male Dramatic Performance
- Greatest Moment
- Hero of the Year
- Sexiest Male
- Sexiest Female
- Special Achievement
Winners
2000s
2005
, who played Seth Armstrong in Emmerdale, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in February 2005.| Award | Winners | Nominees |
| "Best British Soap" | Coronation Street | Doctors EastEnders Emmerdale Family Affairs Hollyoaks |
| "Best Actor" | Shane Richie | Antony Cotton Simon Gregson Nigel Harman |
| "Best Actress" | Suranne Jones | Kacey Ainsworth Emma Atkins Jessie Wallace |
| "Sexiest Male" | Nigel Harman | |
| "Sexiest Female" | Jodi Albert | |
| "Best Newcomer" | Andrea Green | Antony Cotton Charlie Hardwick Tracy-Ann Oberman |
| "Best Exit" | Charlie Brooks | Emma Atkins Sam Barriscale Sasha Behar |
| "Best Comedy Performance" | Maggie Jones | Deena Payne Carley Stenson Ebony Thomas |
| "Best On-Screen Partnership" | John Bardon and June Brown | Sam Aston and Schmeichel Elizabeth Estensen and Charlie Hardwick Alex Carter and Lee Otway |
| "Best Dramatic Performance" | Kazia Pelka | Gary Beadle David Neilson Lee Otway |
| "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" | Sam Aston | Chris Fountain Lacey Turner Charley Webb |
| "Best Bitch" | Kate Ford | Gabrielle Glaister Patsy Kensit Lacey Turner |
| "Villain of the Year" Presented by Alice Cooper | Sasha Behar | Lorraine Chase Tracy-Ann Oberman Bill Ward |
| "Spectacular Scene of the Year" | Maya takes Dev and Sunita hostage and blows up the shop | Les and Cilla's whirlpool disaster Tom's firework party The Open-Top Bus |
| "Best Storyline" | Gary and Chrissy learn friend Bradley has been abusing their daughter Chloe | Maya's revenge on Dev and Sunita Diane's struggle with cancer Bombhead's grief over his mother |
| "Best Single Episode" | Charity and Tom's wedding | Maya blows up Dev's shops Past Imperfect Christmas Day |
| "Special Achievement Award" | John Stevenson | N/A |
| "Lifetime Achievement Award" Presented by Barbara Windsor | June Brown | N/A |
2008
, who played Frank Butcher in EastEnders, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in July 2007.| Award | Winners | Nominees |
| "Best British Soap" | EastEnders | Coronation Street Doctors Emmerdale Hollyoaks |
| "Best Actor" | Chris Fountain | Charlie Clements James Sutton |
| "Best Actress" | Emma Rigby | Jo Joyner Lacey Turner Charlotte Bellamy |
| "Sexiest Male" | Rob James-Collier | Ricky Whittle Robert Kazinsky Scott Maslen |
| "Sexiest Female" | Roxanne McKee | Jennifer Metcalfe Samantha Janus |
| "Best Newcomer" | Michelle Keegan | Stephen Lord Rita Simons Nico Mirallegro |
| "Best Exit" | Gemma Bissix | Sophie Thompson Martin (actor)|Peter Martin] Guy Burnet |
| "Best Comedy Performance" | Maggie Jones | Katherine Kelly Cheryl Fergison Charlie Hardwick |
| "Best On-Screen Partnership" | Matt Littler and Darren Jeffries | David Neilson and Katherine Kelly Cheryl Fergison and Linda Henry Samantha Janus and Rita Simons |
| "Best Dramatic Performance" | Jo Joyner | Jack P. Shepherd Charlotte Bellamy Emma Rigby |
| "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" | Jamie Borthwick | Brooke Vincent Eden Taylor-Draper Ellis Hollins |
| "Villain of the Year" | Jack P. Shepherd | Jake Wood Barry Sloane Sophie Thompson |
| "Spectacular Scene of the Year" | Clare and Katy drive off a cliff | George and Nick's car crash The Land Rover rolls into the lake Justin Burton is run over |
| "Best Storyline" | The aftermath of Max and Stacey's affair | Paul McQueen|John Paul] and Craig's McQueen and Craig Dean|affair] Hannah's anorexia Nick in a wheelchair and George's guilt |
| "Best Single Episode" | Heartbreak – Daniel's death | "Tread Softly/Up Close and Personal" Christmas Day 2007 "The Revelation" |
| "Special Achievement Award" | Tim Fee | N/A |
| "Lifetime Achievement Award" Presented by Kevin Kennedy | Liz Dawn | N/A |
2009
, who played Jack Sugden in Emmerdale, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in July 2008. Wendy Richard, who played Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, was also remembered during the ceremony, having died in February 2009.2010s
2010
, who played Blanche Hunt in Coronation Street, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in December 2009.2011
2012
, who played Betty Williams in Coronation Street, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in October 2011.2013
, who played Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in November 2012.2014
, who played Alan Turner in Emmerdale, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in May 2013. This was also the final ceremony where "Sexiest Male" and "Sexiest Female" were awarded; Michelle Keegan, who plays Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street, won "Sexiest Female" for the sixth time in a row.2015
, who played Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in January 2015. John Bardon, who played Jim Branning in EastEnders, was also remembered during the ceremony, having died in September 2014.This year's ceremony incorporated a "Social Issue Storyline" mention, which is where all of the soap operas' most controversial stories were specially mentioned. These include:
2016
, Stephen Hancock, Shirley Stelfox, Kitty McGeever, Kristian Ealey and Morag Siller were remembered during the ceremony which was held on 29 May.2017
The 2017 awards took place on 3 June 2017 at The Lowry in Salford. It was originally planned for the event to be broadcast live for the first time but due to ITV moving the live grand final of Britain's Got Talent into its scheduled timeslot, the awards were instead pre-recorded as before and broadcast on ITV on 6 June 2017. After the end credits in the broadcast version, dedications appeared to Jean Alexander, who died in October 2016, and Roy Barraclough, who died in June 2017.2018
The 2018 awards were broadcast live for the first time on 2 June 2018. Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street, was remembered during the ceremony, having died in September 2017.2019
The 2019 awards were broadcast live on 1 June 2019.| Award | Winners | Nominees |
| "Best British Soap" Presented by Jane Seymour | Hollyoaks | Coronation Street Doctors EastEnders Emmerdale |
| "Best Actor" Presented by Ruthie Henshall | Gregory Finnegan | Jack P. Shepherd Danny Dyer Zack Morris Jeff Hordley |
| "Best Actress" Presented by Ioan Gruffudd | Lucy Pargeter | Alison King Lorraine Stanley Stephanie Davis Lauren McQueen |
| "Best Newcomer" Presented by Rahul Mandal and Molly Hocking | Alexandra Mardell | Bethan Moore Ricky Champ James Moore Tylan Grant |
| "Best Comedy Performance" Presented by Tony Way and Mandeep Dhillon | Sarah Moyle | Patti Clare Tameka Empson Nicola Wheeler Jessamy Stoddart |
| "Best On-Screen Partnership" Presented by Mark Curry and Yvette Fielding | Roger Griffiths and Kara-Leah Fernandes | Simon Gregson and Kate Ford Ian Midlane and Adrian Lewis Morgan Dominic Brunt and Lucy Pargeter Nick Pickard and Alex Fletcher |
| "Best Male Dramatic Performance" Presented by Ashley Walters | Adam Woodward | Rob Mallard Ian Midlane Zack Morris Dominic Brunt |
| "Best Female Dramatic Performance" Presented by Maya Sondhi | Gillian Wright | Katie McGlynn Elisabeth Dermot Walsh Lucy Pargeter Nadine Rose Mulkerrin |
| "Best Young Actor" Presented by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and Joel Dawson | Kara-Leah Fernandes | Elle Mulvaney Oliver Falconer Joe-Warren Plant Lacey Findlow |
| "Villain of the Year" Presented by Jenny Ryan | Nathan Sussex | Greg Wood Matthew Chambers Ricky Champ Claire King |
| "Scene of the Year" Presented by Dan Walker and Anita Rani | Gail's monologue | The crash Shakil's funeral Cain's confession to Debbie Brody confronts his abuser, Buster |
| "Best Storyline" Presented by Victoria Derbyshire | The impact of Aidan's suicide | Daniel and Zara's break-up Knife crime Charity's abuse Footballer abuse |
| "Best Single Episode" Presented by Nick Knowles | Aidan's suicide and the aftermath | "And the Beat Goes On..." Consent Chas and Paddy say goodbye to baby Grace "Where Do I Belong?". |
| "Outstanding Achievement Award" Presented by Tracy Shaw | Sue Nicholls | N/A |
| "The Tony Warren Award" Presented by Mark Charnock | Val Lawson | N/A |
2020s
2022
The 2022 awards were broadcast live on 11 June 2022. This was Schofield's last as host. A tribute was paid to Australian soap opera Neighbours, after filming ended the day before the ceremony, with video messages from Ian Smith and Jackie Woodburne.The In memoriam segment paid tribute to Paula Tilbrook, Lynda Baron, Mark Eden, Anna Karen, Neville Buswell, Patricia Brake, Barbara Windsor, Leah Bracknell, Leonard Fenton, Kay Mellor, Sheila Mercier, Frank Mills, Johnny Briggs, Roy Hudd, Stephen Churchett, Freddie Jones, Melanie Clark Pullen, Johnny Leeze, and June Brown, who all died between the 2019 and 2022 ceremonies.
| Award | Winners | Nominees |
| Best British Soap Presented by Stephanie Beacham | Emmerdale | Coronation Street Doctors EastEnders Hollyoaks |
| Best Comedy Performance Presented by Lauren Socha and Barney Walsh | Tameka Empson | Jane Hazlegrove Sarah Moyle Lisa Riley Chelsee Healey |
| Best Dramatic Performance Presented by Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec | Mark Charnock | Sally Carman Dex Lee Gillian Wright Harvey Virdi |
| Best Family Presented by Billie Shepherd and Greg Shepherd | The Dingles | The Alahans The Carters The McQueens |
| Best Leading Performer Presented by Hugh Quarshie | Paige Sandhu | Sally Carman Linda Henry Gillian Wright Mark Charnock |
| Best Newcomer Presented by Harpreet Kaur and Eddie Scott | Ross Boatman | Paddy Bever Ross McLaren Darcy Grey Matthew James-Bailey |
| Best On-Screen Partnership Presented by Esme Young and Patrick Grant | Lacey Turner and Gillian Wright | David Neilson and Mollie Gallagher Chris Walker and Jan Pearson Isobel Steele and Bradley Johnson Anna Passey and Kieron Richardson |
| Best Single Episode Presented by Martin Lewis | "Three Consultations and a Funeral" | "Flashback" "Jean in Southend" "Marlon's Stroke" "Out of Time" |
| Best Storyline Presented by David James and Steven Bartlett | Misbah's Historic Rape | Hate Crime Bear and his mother encounter racism at St Phil's Hospital Jean's Bipolar Meena Serial Killer |
| Best Young Performer Presented by Danya Griver and Ella Bright | Millie Gibson | Sonny Kendall Amelia Flanagan Jayden Fox |
| Scene of the Year Presented by Axel Blake | Misbah Didn't Consent | Johnny's Death Mad Hatters Tea Party Hall of Mirrors Bridge Collapse |
| Villain of the Year Presented by Tommy Jessop and Gregory Piper | Maximus Evans | Laura White Toby-Alexander Smith Paige Sandhu Rhiannon Clements |
| Outstanding Achievement Award Presented by Anita Dobson | Letitia Dean | N/A |
| The Tony Warren Award Presented by Connor McIntyre | Jan McVerry | N/A |
2023
The 2023 ceremony took place on 3 June 2023 and aired on ITV on 6 June 2023 at 8pm. It was the first to be hosted by Jane McDonald.The In memoriam segment paid tribute to Bill Treacher, Dale Meeks, Barbara Young, Andy Devine, Ernst Walder, Peter Martin, Mona Hammond, Maria Charles, Harry Landis, and Paul O'Grady who hosted The British Soap Awards from 2004 to 2005.
This marked the last regular appearance of Doctors prior to the cancellation announcement by the BBC on 18 October of that year and Doctors will end production on 14 November 2024 after 24 years on air.
2025
The 2025 ceremony took place on 31 May 2025 and will air on ITV on 5 June 2025 at 8pm. It was hosted by Jane McDonald.Awards statistics
| Award | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 |
| Best Actor | EE | EE | EE | EE | CO | EE | EE | EE | CO | HO | EE | EE | EM | EM | CO | CO | EE | EM | EM | CO | HO | |||
| Best Actress | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | CO | CO | EE | CO | HO | CO | EE | EE | CO | HO | CO | EE | EE | EM | CO | EM | |||
| Best Bitch | CO | CO | EM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Best British Soap | CO | EE | EE | EE | CO | EE | CO | EE | CO | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | CO | HO | EE | EM | EM | CO | HO | EM | EE | EE |
| Best Comedy Performance | CO | CO | BR | CO | CO | HO | CO | EM | HO | CO | EE | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | DO | DO | EE | CO | EE |
| Best Dramatic Performance | EM | EE | CO | BR | CO | EM | FA | CO | EE | EE | DO | EE | CO | EE | CO | CO | EE | EM | CO | EE | ||||
| Best Family | EM | CO | HO | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Female Dramatic Performance | EE | CO | CO | EE | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Male Dramatic Performance | EM | EM | HO | HO | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Exit | EM | EM | CO | EM | CO | EM | EE | EM | CO | HO | CO | EE | CO | CO | CO | |||||||||
| Best Foreign Soap | HA | HA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Leading Performer | EM | EE | EE | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Newcomer | HO | EE | EE | BR | EE | DO | EE | CO | CO | CO | EE | HO | CO | HO | EE | DO | EE | CO | EE | CO | EE | CO | HO | |
| Best On-Screen Partnership | CO | BR | CO | EE | BR | CO | EE | CO | DO | HO | EE | DO | EE | EE | HO | CO | EE | CO | HO | HO | EE | EE | DO | EE |
| Best Single Episode | CO | EE | EM | DO | EM | EE | DO | EE | DO | EE | CO | CO | EM | CO | EE | DO | EM | HO | CO | DO | CO | EE | ||
| Best Storyline | EE | CO | CO | BR | CO | CO | FA | HO | CO | EE | DO | EE | CO | EM | CO | CO | EE | EE | EM | HO | CO | HO | HO | HO |
| Best Young Performer | EE | CO | HO | EM | EE | EE | DO | CO | EE | EM | HO | EM | HO | CO | EM | EE | CO | EE | EM | |||||
| Villain of the Year | CO | EE | EE | EE | CO | EE | CO | EE | HO | CO | CO | EE | HO | CO | CO | HO | HO | CO | DO | CO | HO | CO | EE | EE |
| Hero of the Year | EM | ND | CO | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement | BR | CO | EE | CO | EE | CO | EE | CO | CO | EE | EE | CO | CO | EE | HO | EE | CO | EE | EM | CO | ||||
| Outstanding Achievement Off-Screen/Tony Warren Award | EE | EE | MS | EE | CO | EM | CO | HO | EM | |||||||||||||||
| Sexiest Male | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | CO | CO | CO | EE | EE | EE | EE | HO | HO | ||||||||
| Sexiest Female | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | EE | HO | EE | HO | HO | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | CO | ||||||||
| Special Achievement | CO | BR | EE | IN | CO | IN | EE | EM | CO | EM | EM | EE | ||||||||||||
| Scene of the Year/Spectacular Scene | BR | EM | HO | CO | EM | CO | EM | EM | HO | EM | HO | CO | EM | HO | EM | EM | EM | HO | MS | CO | HO | CO | EE | |
| Greatest Moment | EM |
Note: Crossroads was nominated from 2001 to 2003, but did not receive any awards. The "Best Foreign Soap" category also featured Neighbours, Sunset Beach and The Bold and the Beautiful in 1999.