British Soap Awards 2025: Nominations announced with EastEnders and Emmerdale set to battle it out for top spot at glitzy ceremony
Emmerdale and EastEnders will battle it out for the top categories at the British Soap Awards 2025 this month, with each show receiving 13 nominations.
The two shows have eclipsed rivals Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, who have secured 11 nominations each ahead of the ceremony on May 31.
The glitzy event will be returning to London to Hackney Empire, after previously taking place in Manchester, and will once again be hosted by Jane McDonald as it returns following a surprise hiatus last year
As always, the numerous accolades will be presented by an array of well-known faces from across the TV and showbiz world, with the TV event broadcasting a few days later in a primetime slot.
The ceremony will celebrate a mammoth year in soaps looking back on 12 months of murder, mystery, make-ups, break ups, trials, tribulations and tears.
An incredible year saw Gail Platt depart the cobbles after 50 years in Coronation Street and EastEnders celebrate its 40th anniversary.
EastEnders and Emmerdale will do battle at the British Soap Awards, with each earning 13 nods (pictured: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson, left, and Eden Taylor-Draper as Belle Dingle, right)
+6
View gallery
Lacey Turner has been nominated for Best Leading Performer for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders ahead of the May 31 ceremony
+6
View gallery
Ned Porteous will compete for Villain of the Year at the awards thanks to his fine performances as Joe Tate in Emmerdale
Meanwhile Hollyoaks leapt a year into the future and in Emmerdale a dramatic limousine crash into a frozen lake left viewers stunned.
The Viewer Voted Categories include Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer, Villain of the Year and Best Comedy Performance.
The nominees for Best Leading Performer are Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders), Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) and Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale).
And the public has a tough choice when it comes to Villain of the Year with Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street), Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders), Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) and Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) to choose from.
The Best Comedy Performance category includes Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders), Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) and Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks).
The ceremony, which first began in 1999, was rested in 2024 but is back with Jane hosting the ceremony which will air on ITV1 and ITVX in June.
Last year’s show was suddenly cancelled with no explanation after the nominees had been announced.
The June 2023 edition reached 5.7 million viewers in total with just under one million streams on ITVX and a peak of 3.2m viewers via its linear overnight broadcast.
Singer and self-confessed soaps lover Jane, 61, stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Phillip Schofield two years ago after he quit ITV after admitting to an affair with a young male This Morning colleague.
+6
View gallery
An incredible year saw Gail Platt depart the cobbles after 50 years in Coronation Street among many dramatic storylines
+6
View gallery
And after her hugely successful debut stint hosting the awards for the first time in 2023, the legendary Jane McDonald will be returning as host
+6
View gallery
The singer and self-confessed soap fan stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Phillip Schofield after he quit ITV (pictured presenting the awards in 2022)
Host Jane said: ‘I’m beyond excited to be hosting The British Soap Awards again as I had such a ball hosting the awards last time.
‘You all know I love my soaps, so to be in a room giving recognition to all these wonderful actors and their fantastic hard work is simply joyous. I can’t wait to get my glittery frock on and celebrate with everyone.’
Read More
The British Soap Awards host revealed as ceremony set to RETURN after being cancelled last year
Meanwhile, Gemma John-Lewis, Entertainment Commissioner ITV said: ‘The British Soaps Awards are an opportunity to celebrate and shine a light on the incredible actors and production teams that deliver gripping drama and captivating stories throughout the year.
‘We’re delighted Jane McDonald, a self proclaimed number one soap fan, is returning to host the awards.’
As well as a host of Panel Voted Categories the winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award and The Tony Warren Award will be announced on the night.
Voting for the Viewer Voted Categories is now open via the British Soap Awards website and will close at 5pm on Friday 30 May.
British Soap Awards 2025: Full List of Nominations
Viewer Voted Categories:
Best British Soap:
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Best Leading Performer:
Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders)
Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders)
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)
Villain of the Year:
Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street)
Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders)
Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale)
Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks)
Best Comedy Performance:
Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street)
Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders)
Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale)
Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Panel Voted Categories:
Best Family:
The Platts (Coronation Street)
The Slaters (EastEnders)
The Dingles (Emmerdale)
The Osbornes (Hollyoaks)
Best Dramatic Performance:
Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street)
Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders)
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Best Single Episode:
Mason’s death (Coronation Street)
Phil’s psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders)
April’s life on the streets (Emmerdale)
Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks)
Best On-Screen Partnership:
Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street)
Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders)
William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)
Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks)
Best Newcomer:
Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street)
Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders)
Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale)
Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Best Storyline:
Paul’s battle with MND (Coronation Street)
Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders)
Belle and Tom – Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale)
Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks)
Best Young Performer:
Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street)
Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders)
Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale)
Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Scene of the Year:
Mason’s death (Coronation Street)
Angie Watts’ shock return (EastEnders)
Amy’s deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)
Mercedes confronts her mortality (Hollyoaks)
