British Soap Awards 2022: Emmerdale WIN the coveted Best Soap prize

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 it was Emmerdale who emerged victorious as they bagged the coveted Best Soap prize at the end of the night, with the cast and crew excitedly heading on stage to collect their award.

The Leeds-based soap tied with EastEnders as they led the winners with four gongs each, with Emmerdale bagging the Leading Performer, Best Family and Dramatic Performance prizes in addition to Best Soap.

Lydia Dingle actress Karen Blick led the way as she spoke on behalf of the team and thanked viewers for voting, explaining that the prize meant the world to them. 

She went on to explain how proud the soap was for managing to stay on TV screen throughout the whole of the pandemic, when Covid-19 restrictions caused many TV shows – including rival soap EastEnders – to temporarily go off air. 

The soap star also gave a nod to the soap’s incredible 50th anniversary this year, while also dedicating the gong to the whole team and everyone in Yorkshire.

Rounding off her speech, Karen, 47, once again thanked everyone for voting before concluding: ‘Now we can go to the bar!’

Among Emmerdale’s other big wins were the Leading Performer award, which went to Paige Sandhu for her performance as deranged serial killer Meena Jutla.

The actress, 25, was the first ever recipient of this newly-created award after the male and female categories were axed by show bosses this year.

Paige, who looked stunning in a plunging mint green caped dress, revealed to the audience that she didn’t think she’d win the prize before going on to congratulate the other nominees in the category.

The beauty went on to say that Emmerdale is the ‘kindest, loveliest place to work’ before thanking thanking the producers, her family and her partner.

Mark Charnock meanwhile scooped the prize for Dramatic Performance, for his portrayal as Marlon Dingle who this year was struck down by a stroke. 

As he made his way to the stage, his proud onscreen daughter Amelia Flanagan (April Dingle) was seen wiping away a tear, while the excited actor declared: ‘I’m getting so drunk tonight!’ before saying he planned to wear the gong as an accessory.

On a serious note Mark, who has played the role since 1996, thanked producers for entrusting him with the storyline, the Emmerdale cast and crew, the Stroke Association and two stroke survivors that he worked with as he remarked: ‘I’m forever in your debt’.

Mark poignantly concluded sharing some harrowing facts about Stroke, including that every 5 minutes someone has a Stroke, before saying that ‘more needs to be done’ for funding and research.

Mark once again headed onto stage as Emmerdale’s The Dingles won best family.

Sam Hooten (Sam Dingle) gave a speech in which he dedicated to the late actor Andy Devine – who played Shadrach Dingle – who died of pneumonia in hospital after being admitted following an accidental fall in January.

The actor, whose real first name was Peter, appeared to have ‘lost his balance’ and died in Southport Hospital in Merseyside on January 27 this year and Sam noted that the cast only learned of his death when it was reported a few weeks ago. 

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, who played Angie Watts, with Letitia exclaiming: ‘Hello mum!’ as she made her way onto the stage.  

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.

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.

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. 

The move follows The Brits which scrapped gender classifications this year, with Adele beating Ed Sheeran to Artist of the Year. 

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.