skip to main content

Emmerdale is the big winner at British Soap Awards

Emmerdale's depiction of Ashley Tinsley's dementia helped the soap win six awards
Emmerdale's depiction of Ashley Tinsley's dementia helped the soap win six awards

Emmerdale was the big winner at the British Soap Awards 2017 on Saturday night, taking home six gongs in total.

ITV's rural soap won best British soap, best storyline, best actor, and best male dramatic performance for actor John Middleton, who played dementia sufferer Ashley Tinsley, best actress for Charlotte Bellamy, who played Ashley's wife Laurel, and best single episode.

The ceremony took place in Salford less than two weeks after a terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester devastated the city.

Middleton hailed the integrity of how Ashley's dementia was portrayed on Emmerdale

Host Phillip Schofield opened the show saying: "As an Oldham lad it is an honour to host the show in this wonderful city, whose spirit has inspired the world over the last two weeks."

Middleton, who has already collected a string of accolades for his portrayal of Ashley's dementia, hailed "the integrity with which the story was told" as he collected the best dramatic performance prize.

Coronation Street collected four prizes at the ceremony. Kym Marsh was given the award for best female dramatic performance for her turn in a stillbirth storyline, which echoed her own real life experience.

Delivering an emotional speech on stage, Marsh dedicated the prize to the baby she lost.

She said: "This award I would like to dedicate to my son Archie and all those angel babies."

She added: "Michelle and Steve's baby loss story was perhaps the most difficult thing I've had to do in my career, it took us to places we didn't want to go to again but we did it because it's such an important story to tell."

She continued: "As we sit here enjoying ourselves, someone is losing their baby. I've been through it as I'm sure most of you know, Simon has been through it.

"We are breaking the silence and making this less taboo and making people realise they are not alone."

The best comedy performance prize went to Marsh's co-star Dolly-Rose Campbell, who paid tribute to Coronation Street super Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester terror attack.

Rob Mallard, who recently joined the soap as Ken Barlow's son Dan Osbourne, won the best newcomer prize and dedicated it to his partner and co-star Daniel Brocklebank.

Holding the gong, he said: "While this is great, Dan, you're the best thing I've ever taken home."

Coronation Street's fourth prize was won by Elle Mulvaney, who took the best young performance gong for her portrayal of Amy Barlow.

Channel 4's Hollyoaks won three awards, including best on-screen partnership for Richard Linnell and Kassius Nelson for their roles as Alfie Nightingale and Jade Albright, scene of the year for Jade saying goodbye to Alfie, and the outstanding achievement award, which was won by the soap's veteran star Nick Pickard after 21 years on the show.

Villain of the year went to Lucy-Jo Hudson for playing Rhiannon Davis in BBC soap Doctors while the Tony Warren Award went to EastEnders' scriptwriter Gillian Richmond.

The British Soap Awards will air on TV3 this Tuesday night.

Read Next