EastEnders has been crowned Best British Soap after a triumphant night at the 2025 British Soap Awards, taking home eight awards in total — the most of any show this year. Hosted at the Hackney Empire in London by singer and presenter Jane McDonald, the ceremony brought together stars from across the UK’s top soap operas.
Legendary actor Sir David Jason presented the night’s biggest honour, the Best British Soap Award, to the EastEnders cast.
Full List of EastEnders Wins
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Best British Soap – EastEnders
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Best Leading Performer – Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater)
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Best Dramatic Performance – Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell)
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Best Single Episode – Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells in 1985
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Scene of the Year – Angie Watts’ ghost returns for the 40th anniversary
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Villain of the Year – Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar)
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Best Comedy Performance – Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson)
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Best On-Screen Partnership – Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter (Patrick & Yolande Trueman)
The BBC soap’s emotional storytelling and bold anniversary tributes cemented its dominance at this year’s event.
Hollyoaks and Emmerdale Also Celebrated
Hollyoaks picked up three awards, including:
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Best Family – The Osbornes
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Best Newcomer – Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne)
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Best Storyline – Sibling Sexual Abuse between Jack Junior and Frankie Osborne
Emmerdale took home two awards:
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Best Young Performer – Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor)
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Tony Warren Award – Mike Plant, veteran cameraman
Coronation Street’s Single Win
ITV’s Coronation Street won just one award this year — the Outstanding Achievement Award, which went to David Neilson, who has played the beloved café owner Roy Cropper for nearly 30 years.
Watch the British Soap Awards 2025 on TV
The ceremony, which was held on May 31, will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on Thursday, June 5 at 8pm.
Why EastEnders’ Victory Matters
This year marks a creative resurgence for EastEnders, highlighted by nostalgic and emotionally complex storylines. Fan reactions on social media have praised the show’s willingness to explore mental health, family dynamics, and dramatic returns. The Mitchell-focused anniversary episode in particular was hailed as one of the most powerful soap episodes of the decade.
