Anita Dobson wins big for her surprise EastEnders return while Emmerdale’s Amelia Flanagan is overcome with emotion as she accepts Best Young Performer gong at British Soap Awards

As I basked in the glow of victory on Saturday evening, I couldn’t help but exude pure joy when I was awarded Scene of the Year for my unexpected comeback on EastEnders at this year’s British Soap Awards. Meanwhile, Amelia Flanagan fought back emotions as she gracefully accepted her well-deserved accolade.

Celebrities from the nation’s beloved soap operas attended the yearly event held at London’s Hackney Empire, an occasion graced by host Jane McDonald.

One evening highlight was 76-year-old Anita receiving an award for playing Angie Watts again in EastEnders’ special anniversary show back in February.

In simpler terms, after an absence of 37 years, the actress portrayed the original landlady of the Queen Vic for a poignant guest appearance alongside her on-screen daughter Sharon, who is played by Letitia Dean.

Viewers were left speechless and tearful by her dramatic comeback, which many called the “best TV moment of the year.” Given this emotional reaction, it was only natural that she took home the award.

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Anita emerged victorious amidst tough rivalry, outshining the tragic departures of Mason on Coronation Street, Amy’s fatal fall in Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks’ Mercedes facing her own mortality.

In the meantime, Amelia felt deeply moved when she was declared the Best Young Performer, having portrayed April Windsor on Emmerdale.

16-year-old, who had earlier been awarded the title of Best Young Performance in 2015, couldn’t conceal her astonishment as she stepped onto the stage to receive the trophy.

In the end, the actress emerged victorious over Will Flanagan from Coronation Street, Sonny Kendall of EastEnders, and Noah Holdsworth from Hollyoaks.

Or, more concisely:

The actress outperformed Will Flanagan (Coronation Street), Sonny Kendall (EastEnders), and Noah Holdsworth (Hollyoaks) to secure the victory.

A noteworthy highlight during the event was when Sir David Jason stepped up on stage to bestow the prestigious Best Soap accolade.

In an elegant black suit and bow tie, the 85-year-old actor from Only Fools and Horses gracefully declared EastEnders as the victor.

The night turned out splendidly for Walford’s locals, as their beloved soap on BBC claimed an impressive eight awards in this year’s competition.

On that particular evening, Holby City collected three awards, while Emmerdale garnered two, and Coronation Street earned just one award.

Or simply:
Holby City won 3 awards, Emmerdale had 2, and Coronation Street got 1 on the given night.

Additionally, EastEnders not only received recognition for Anita’s victory and the title of Best Soap, but it also won the accolade for Best Episode, specifically for Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells in 1985.

Steve McFadden, the actor known for his portrayal of beloved character Phil Mitchell, was honored with the Best Dramatic Performance accolade. Meanwhile, Patsy Palmer received the Best Comedic Performance award for her performance as Bianca Jackson.

In the widely acclaimed show, Navin Chowdhry, playing Nish Panesar, was honored with the award for Best Villain, while Lacey Turner, portraying Stacey Slater, received the accolade for Best Leading Performer.

Navin Chowdhry, as Nish Panesar, took home the award for Best Villain in the highly-rated show, and Lacey Turner, as Stacey Slater, was recognized with the Best Leading Performer Award.

Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter, portraying Patrick and Yolande Trueman on EastEnders, secured yet another victory by taking home the award for Best On-screen Duo.

The initial three accolades from Hollyoaks were earned by Isabelle Smith, who clinched the title of Best Newcomer for her portrayal of Frankie Osborne.

In a turn of events, the Osbornes bagged the title for Best Family, while the harrowing sibling sexual abuse story arc in Hollyoaks was recognized with the Best Storyline award.

Mike Plant, the camera operator on Emmerdale, was honored with the Tony Warren Award, an accolade that recognizes individuals contributing significantly in a behind-the-scenes capacity.

The only award given out on Coronation Street last night was the Outstanding Achievement Award, and it was presented to David Neilson, who’s portrayed Roy Cropper for an impressive 30 years.

In a joint presentation, Denise Walsh and Martin Kemp handed out the Best Newcomer award. However, it was Denise who received another surprise award from Shirlie Kemp.

The actress received the unique “CHEE” award, which honors an actor who has starred in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, EastEnders, and Emmerdale, collectively known as the “Big Four” soap operas.

Last year’s show was suddenly cancelled with no explanation after the nominees had been announced.

In the June 2023 release, a grand total of 5.7 million viewers tuned in. This number includes approximately 980 thousand streams on ITVX, while over 3.2 million viewers peaked during the linear overnight transmission through conventional broadcasting.

As a diehard devotee, I’ve been enthralled by the captivating charm of Jane, the multi-talented singer and soap enthusiast, who gracefully stepped into the limelight two years ago following Phillip Schofield’s sudden departure from ITV after confessing to an affair with a younger male colleague on This Morning.

Host Jane expressed her immense enthusiasm for being back to host The British Soap Awards, as she thoroughly enjoyed herself during her previous stint as the host.

It’s no secret that I adore soaps, and it’s truly delightful to honor these talented actors for their remarkable efforts in a setting like this. I’m eagerly anticipating putting on my sparkling gown and joining the festivities with all of you.

In the meantime, Gemma John-Lewis, ITV’s Entertainment Commissioner, stated: “The British Soap Awards serve as a platform to honor and highlight the exceptional talent of actors and production crews who create compelling dramas and engaging narratives all year long.

We’re thrilled that Jane McDonald, who proudly calls herself a die-hard soap opera enthusiast, will be back to host the upcoming awards.

The British Soap Awards airs on Thursday at 8pm on ITV1 & ITVX. 

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2025-06-03 23:38