British Soap Awards 2025 Delayed by Technical Issues, EastEnders Wins Eight Awards

The British Soap Awards 2025, held at London's Hackney Empire and hosted by Jane McDonald, experienced a significant broadcast delay on ITV due to a technical glitch that caused an apology message and a black screen lasting around six to seven minutes. Viewers expressed widespread frustration on social media, questioning why the pre-recorded show was disrupted and criticizing the network's reliability. The awards ceremony celebrated soap stars from Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks, but it was a disappointing night for Coronation Street, which only received the Outstanding Achievement Award for David Neilson. Emmerdale secured two awards, including Best Young Performer for Amelia Flanagan and the Tony Warren Award for cameraman Mike Plant. EastEnders was the evening’s big winner, taking home eight awards in its 40th anniversary year, including Best Soap, Best Leading Performer for Lacey Turner, and Best Dramatic Performance for Steve McFadden. Despite the rocky start, the pre-recorded event resumed smoothly after the brief disruption.