British Soap Awards: The fight for Best Soap over the years

EastEnders won the prize at the 2023 edition of the awards show

Roxy Simons
·3-min read
Jeff Hordley as Cain Dingle in Emmerdale (ITV), Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce in EastEnders (BBC) and Charlotte Jordan as Daisy Midgeley in Coronation Street (ITV)
Jeff Hordley as Cain Dingle in Emmerdale (ITV), Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce in EastEnders (BBC) and Charlotte Jordan as Daisy Midgeley in Coronation Street (ITV)

The 2023 edition of the British Soap Awards saw EastEnders be named the Best British Soap, the first time the show has done so in eight years.

The public-voted prize was awarded to the Walford based drama on 3 June with the cast accepting the accolade and Billy Mitchell actor Perry Fenwick saying: “From the bottom of our hearts, honestly, we are thrilled to bits.”

Read more: The latest EastEnders spoilers revealed

Since the awards show began in 1999, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Doctors have gone head-to-head for the coveted title, with each earning the accolade at one time or another.

But which show has won the prize the most? Here is everything you need to know.

Which show has won Best Soap at the British Soap Awards the most?

Coronation Street was the first soap to win the top prize at the British Soap Awards, with EastEnders following suit in 2000 and winning three years in a row.

After that, Corrie came back with a vengeance in 2003. The two shows won alternating years until 2007, when EastEnders took the lead until 2011.

Read more: The longest serving TV actors as Derek Thompson quits Casualty after 37 years

Coronation Street, then on four awards, returned to the fight in 2013 by winning the award, and 2014 marked the first year that Hollyoaks won the prize. Emmerdale also won the prize for the first time in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

From Lifted Entertainment THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS 2023 Tuesday 6th June 2023 on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: The cast of Eastenders, winners of the Best British Soap award The British Soap Awards returns to ITV1 and ITVX this June to once again celebrate the nations biggest and most-loved soap operas. This year the awards will take place at The Lowry in Salford hosted by Jane McDonald. As always, the numerous awards will be presented by an array of well-known faces from across the TV and showbiz world. For 2023, the ˜Best Family™ category will move into the panel vote, whilst Best Villain and ˜Best Young Performer™ will both move into the public vote. Returning to its previous format, the awards will broadcast in a pre-recorded midweek primetime slot. As always, the award ceremony will celebrate a mammoth year in soap opera, looking back on twelve months of murder, mystery, make-ups, break ups, trials, tribulations and tears. An incredible year in which Mick and Janine Carter dramatically departed Albert Square in EastEnders, Daisy Midgely fell victim to a dangerous stalker in Coronation Street, Warren couldn’™t escape Norma’s lies and manipulation in Hollyoaks, Paddy considered taking his own life following a build up of isolation, grief and confusion in Emmerdale and Rob was left devastated following Karen sudden death in Doctors. The five biggest soaps - Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - will be battling it out to win recognition for their work over the past year. Some of the biggest faces from all five soaps will be hitting the red carpet for the most star-studded and glamorous event in the soap calendar. (C) ITV Photographer Johnathon Hordle For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
The cast of Eastenders celebrate winning the Best British Soap award in 2023. (ITV)

The prize was awarded to Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks intermittently from 2016 onwards, the 2020 and 2021 edition of the show was cancelled because of the COVID pandemic and when it returned in 2022 it was Emmerdale that came out victorious.

While Doctors has been nominated for Best Soap every year since 1999 it has not yet won the prize at the British Soap Awards.

EastEnders last won the Best Soap award at the British Soap Awards in 2015, with the show apparently struggling to win votes from the public again until this year.

How many Best Soap award wins does each show have?

  • EastEnders - 12 wins

  • Coronation Street - 6 wins

  • Emmerdale - 3 wins

  • Hollyoaks - 2 wins

How many Best Soap nominations does each show have?

  • Coronation Street - 23

  • EastEnders - 22

  • Emmerdale - 21

  • Hollyoaks - 20

  • Doctors - 19

  • Family Affairs - 6

  • Brookside - 2

  • Crossroads - 2

  • Night and Day - 1

From Lifted Entertainment THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS 2023 Tuesday 6th June 2023 on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Danielle Harold with the Best Leading Performer award The British Soap Awards returns to ITV1 and ITVX this June to once again celebrate the nations biggest and most-loved soap operas. This year the awards will take place at The Lowry in Salford hosted by Jane McDonald. As always, the numerous awards will be presented by an array of well-known faces from across the TV and showbiz world. For 2023, the ˜Best Family™ category will move into the panel vote, whilst Best Villain and ˜Best Young Performer™ will both move into the public vote. Returning to its previous format, the awards will broadcast in a pre-recorded midweek primetime slot. As always, the award ceremony will celebrate a mammoth year in soap opera, looking back on twelve months of murder, mystery, make-ups, break ups, trials, tribulations and tears. An incredible year in which Mick and Janine Carter dramatically departed Albert Square in EastEnders, Daisy Midgely fell victim to a dangerous stalker in Coronation Street, Warren couldn’™t escape Norma’s lies and manipulation in Hollyoaks, Paddy considered taking his own life following a build up of isolation, grief and confusion in Emmerdale and Rob was left devastated following Karen sudden death in Doctors. The five biggest soaps - Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - will be battling it out to win recognition for their work over the past year. Some of the biggest faces from all five soaps will be hitting the red carpet for the most star-studded and glamorous event in the soap calendar. (C) ITV Photographer Johnathon Hordle For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Danielle Harold with the Best Leading Performer award at The British Soap Awards 2023. (ITV)

The 2023 edition of the British Soap Awards also saw EastEnders star Danielle Harold win the best leading performer prize for her portrayal of Lola Pearce-Brown, who died following a brain tumour on the soap.

Accepting the award, Harold said: “This isn’t for me. This is definitely for every single person who’s worked with me along the way who has been directly affected by brain tumours, people who are suffering from brain tumours.

Read more: EastEnders viewers 'broken' as Lola loses fight with brain tumour

“Their time has been so precious to them and even more to me and I can’t thank all of you enough for helping me."

Watch: Danny Dyer hints he may return to EastEnders

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