The British Soap Awards returned for another star-studded live ceremony for the first time in two years on Saturday, with host Phillip Schofield welcoming the great and good of the soap world to London’s Hackney Empire.Â
And EastEnders legend Letitia Dean was the proud recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement award for her almost 40 year stint playing Sharon Watts.
The actress, 54, was presented with her gong by onscreen mother Anita Dobson, whoplayed Angie Watts, with Letitia exclaiming: ‘Hello mum!’ as she made her way onto the stage. Â
What an achievement! EastEnders legend Letitia Dean was the proud recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement award for her almost 40 year stint playing Sharon Watts
Kicking off the wins were Hollyoaks, with Misbah Maalik’s historic rape scooping the coveted Best Storyline prize – the first award of the night.
Misbah actress Harvey Virdi took to the stage to accept the award, telling the cheering audience that it means ‘a lot to us’ as ‘a lot of the victims don’t get legal justice.’
Meanwhile, EastEnders stars Gillian Wright and Lacey Turner (Jean and Stacey Slater) fought off stiff competition to win best onscreen partnership.
As they excitedly took to the stage, Gillian was quick to heap praise on her co-star and onscreen daughter, telling the audience: ‘I love working with this woman,’
Turning to Lacey, she sweetly added: ‘It’s an absolute privilege to work with you Lacey Turner and I never take it for granted.’
Meanwhile, Lacey said that watching Gillian portray bi-polar character Jean for 15 years was ‘mesmerising’, sweetly adding: ‘You make me a better actress, I love you very much!’
The British Soap Awards returned live to ITV for the first time in two years after the 2020 and 2021 ceremonies were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congrats! Kicking off the British Soap Awards wins on Saturday were Hollyoaks, with Misbah Maalik’s historic rape scooping the coveted Best Storyline prize – the first award of the night
Comeback! The British Soap Awards returned for another star-studded live ceremony for the first time in two years on Saturday, with host Phillip Schofield welcoming the great and good of the soap world to London’s Hackney Empire
And in 2022, the competition was fierce as the five biggest soaps – Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – battled it out to win recognition for their work over the past year.
The event kicked off with a humorous sketch with actor Shaun Williamson, aka EastEnders’ hapless Barry Evans, portraying a security guard as he gave a lowdown on the soap’s highlights.
However, he soon found himself yelling in fear as his onscreen wife Janine Butcher – who famously killed Barry all those years ago – appeared on screen, causing Shaun to exclaim: ‘The b***h is back!’
This year, host Phillip Schofield, 60, welcomed a plethora of soap stars to London’s Hackney Empire, where they’ll battle it out to scoop prizes in 14 categories.
The awards are either voted for by a panel of expert judges or the public, with fans able to choose their favourites for Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer and Best Family categories.
Look who it is! The event kicked off with a humorous sketch with actor Shaun Williamson, aka EastEnders’ hapless Barry Evans, portraying a security guard as he gave a lowdown on the soap’s highlights
Terrifying: However, he soon found himself yelling in fear as his onscreen wife Janine Butcher – who famously killed Barry all those years ago – appeared on screen, causing Shaun to exclaim: ‘The b***h is back!’
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year that The British Soap Awards opted to axe the male and female categories.
Instead of Best Actor and Actress, stars from much-loved British soaps will battle it out for the newly-created new Best Leading Performer award.Â
The move follows The Brits which scrapped gender classifications this year, with Adele beating Ed Sheeran to Artist of the Year.Â
He’s back! This year, host Phillip Schofield, 60, welcomed a plethora of soap stars to London’s Hackney Empire, where they’ll battle it out to scoop prizes in 14 categories
Past winners of the Best Actress award include Lucy Pargeter (who plays Chas Dingle in Emmerdale), Lucy Fallon (who plays Bethany Platt in Coronation Street) and Charlotte Bellamy (who plays Laurel Thomas in Emmerdale).
It follows the award for Sexiest Male and Female, voted by the public, being axed in 2015.
British Soap Awards 2022: The Winners
British Soap
Coronation StreetÂ
Doctors
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Leading PerformerÂ
Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street
Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) – EastEnders
Linda Henry (Shirley Carter) – EastEnders
Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) – Emmerdale
Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) – Emmerdale
 FamilyÂ
The Alahans – Coronation Street
The Carters – EastEnders
The Dingles – Emmerdale – WINNER
The McQueens – Hollyoaks
Coronation Street: Sally Carman as Abi Webster
VillainÂ
Maximus Evans (Corey Brent) – Coronation Street – WINNER
Laura White (Dr Princess Buchanan) – Doctors
Toby-Alexander Smith (Gray Atkins) – EastEnders
Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) – Emmerdale
Rhiannon Clements (Summer Ranger) – Hollyoaks
Coronation Street: Maximus Evans as Corey Brent
Comedy Performer
Jane Hazelgrove (Bernie Winter) – Coronation Street
Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman) – Doctors
Tameka Empson (Kim Fox) – EastEnders
Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) – Emmerdale
Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen) – Hollyoaks
NewcomerÂ
Paddy Bever (Max Turner) – Coronation Street
Ross McLaren (Luca McIntyre) – Doctors
Ross Boatman (Harvey Monroe) – EastEnders – WINNER
Darcy Grey (Marcus Dean) – Emmerdale
Matthew James-Bailey (Ethan Williams) – Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks: Chelsee Healey as Goldie McQueen
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Best StorylineÂ
Coronation Street – Hate Crime
Doctors – Bear and his mother encounter racism at St Phil’s Hospital
EastEnders – Jean’s Bipolar
Emmerdale – Meena Serial Killer
Hollyoaks – Misbah’s Historic Rape – WINNER
Single EpisodeÂ
Coronation Street – Flashback
Doctors – Three Consultations and a Funeral – WINNER
EastEnders – Jean in Southend
Emmerdale – Marlon’s stroke
Hollyoaks – Out of Time
Emmerdale:Â Mark Charnock as Marlon DingleÂ
Dramatic PerformanceÂ
Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street
Dex Lee (Bear Sylvester) – Doctors
Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) – EastEnders
Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) – Emmerdale – WINNER
Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik) – Hollyoaks
On-screen partnership Â
David Neilson & Mollie Gallagher (Roy Cropper & Nina Lucas) – Coronation Street
Chris Walker & Jan Pearson (Rob Hollins & Karen Hollins) – Doctors
Lacey Turner & Gillian Wright (Stacey Slater and Jean Slater) – EastEnders – WINNER
Isobel Steele & Bradley Johnson (Liv Flaherty & Vinny Dingle) – Emmerdale
Anna Passey & Kieron Richardson (Sienna Blake & Ste Hay) – Hollyoaks
EastEnders:Â Gillian Wright as Jean Slater
Young performerÂ
Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan) – Coronation Street – WINNER
Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon) – EastEnders
Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor) – Emmerdale
Jayden Fox (Bobby Costello) – Hollyoaks
Scene of the yearÂ
Coronation Street – Johnny’s Death
Doctors – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
EastEnders – Hall of Mirrors
Emmerdale – Bridge Collapse
Hollyoaks – Misbah Didn’t Consent    Â
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The Outstanding Achievement Award went to EastEnders legend Letitia Dean for her portrayal of Sharon Watts
 The Tony Warren Award went to Coronation Street scriptwriter Jan McVerryÂ
