EastEnders and Emmerdale were the joint shows to beat at the 2025 British Soap Awards as both had an impressive 13 nominations over 12 categories each – but the BBC soap proved triumphant on the night

The full winners list of the British Soap Awards 2025 has been unveiled(Image: PA)

EastEnders were the big winners at tonight’s British Soap Awards, taking away the top gong. Named Best British Soap, they beat Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks to the coveted accolade.

Walking away with eight awards in total, Steve McFadden picked up Best Dramatic Performance and Best Single Episode for Phil Mitchell’s psychosis. It comes in the soap’s 40th anniversary year.

Hollyoaks got three awards, Emmerdale got two and Coronation Street walked away with one – the Outstanding Achievement Award to David Neilson, who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years. The biggest names in soapland dazzled on the glitter carpet – with Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter and Corrie favourite Tina O’Brien both looking sensational in the same dress, a sparkly Oh Polly number.

EastEnders icons Gillian Taylforth and Anita Dobson were in attendance at the awards(Image: PA)

Speaking before she was presented with the scene of the year award, EastEnders legend Anita Dobson said: “It was just perfect.” And asked if she could return again, she said: “I don’t think so, although I should say never say never, it would have to be something extra special.”

Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, added: “It was just brilliant, although none of us knew that she was coming back! We’ll need Ange back if anything ever happened to Kathy, not that I want it too.”

Hosted by Jane McDonald, telly favourites Sir David Jason and Larry Lamb presented awards at London’s Hackney Empire.

The awards were back after being cancelled last year. Watch the British Soap Awards 2025 on Thursday 5 June via ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm.

The British Soap Awards 2025 winners list in full;

BEST BRITISH SOAP

EastEnders

BEST LEADING PERFORMER

EastEnders: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater)

VILLAIN OF THE YEAR

EastEnders: Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar)

BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Coronation Street: Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt)

BEST FAMILY

Hollyoaks: The Osbornes

BEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE

EastEnders: Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell)

BEST SINGLE EPISODE

EastEnders: Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985

BEST ON-SCREEN PARTNERSHIP

EastEnders: Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter (Patrick & Yolande Trueman)

BEST NEWCOMER

Hollyoaks: Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne)

BEST STORYLINE

Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse

BEST YOUNG PERFORMER

Emmerdale: Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor)

SCENE OF THE YEAR

EastEnders: Angie Watts’ Shock Return

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

David Neilson presented by Julie Hesmondhalgh

THE TONY WARREN AWARD

Emmerdale – MIKE PLANT