Inside Soap Awards 2023 WINNERS: EastEnders is named Best Soap for second year running and its tragic Lola Pearce cancer plot dominates with Danielle Harold winning Best Actress
EastEnders dominated at the 2023 Inside Soap Awards on Monday as it was named Best Soap for the second year running.
The BBC drama scooped up a total of six gongs at the annual ceremony, beating its fellow soap operas Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Casualty and Doctors.
The soap’s tragic Lola Pearce cancer storyline was also widely recognised at the ceremony, with star Danielle Harold taking home the Best Actress prize.
She beat a host of esteemed names to the award, including the likes of Coronation Street’s Charlotte Jordan and Maureen Lipman, Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe and Emmerdale’s Emma Atkins.
Danielle also beat her co-stars Diane Parish, who plays Denise Fox, and Shona McGarty, who portrays Whitney Dean, to take home the esteemed award.
Success: EastEnders dominated at the 2023 Inside Soap Awards on Monday as it was named Best Soap for the second year running (pictured: Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce)
Danielle’s character Lola Pearce died in emotional scenes after sadly losing her battle with terminal brain cancer earlier this year.
The heartbreaking storyline was dubbed the ‘saddest ever’ exit by fans, and saw Danielle win Best Leading Performer the British Soap Awards, before her Inside Soap Awards success.
The storyline was further lauded at Monday’s ceremony as it also scooped up the Best Storyline gong in another huge victory for Danielle’s heart-wrenching exit.
In another huge success, Jamie Borthwick, who portrays Lola’s widower Jay Brown, took home the sought-after Best Actor prize.
He was up against the likes of Coronation Street’s David Neilson and Ryan Prescott, as well as Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt, Jeff Hordley and Kevin Mathurin.
Also nominated in the category were Hollyoaks’ Gregory Finnegan and Jamie Lomas, as well as Jamie’s EastEnders’ co-stars Perry Fenwick and James Farrar.
Isabella Brown, who plays Lola’s daughter Lexi Pearce, won Best Young Performer, marking out another win for EastEnders – which took home a total of six gongs out of the 15 different categories.
Max Bowden, who is Lexi’s father Ben Mitchell and missed Lola’s final moments in emotional scenes, was also awarded Soap Superstar Of The Year for ‘a performance that [went] above and beyond the call of duty’.
Lauded: The soap’s tragic Lola Pearce cancer storyline was also recognised, with star Danielle Harold taking home Best Actress and Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown) winning Best Actor
Dominating: Isabella Brown, who plays Lola’s daughter Lexi Pearce, also won Best Young Performer – with EastEnders taking home a total of six gongs out of the 15 different categories
INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2023: WINNERS AT A GLANCE
BEST SOAP: EastEnders
BEST ACTRESS: Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders)
BEST ACTOR: Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown, EastEnders)
BEST YOUNG PERFORMER: Isabella Brown (Lexi Pearce, EastEnders)
BEST NEWCOMER: Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey, Coronation Street)
BEST VILLAIN: Todd Boyce (Stephen Reid, Coronation Street)
BEST COMIC PERFORMANCE: Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
BEST PARTNERSHIP: Dominic Brunt & Mark Charnock (Paddy & Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)
BEST FAMILY: The Dingles (Emmerdale)
BEST STORYLINE: Loving and losing Lola (EastEnders)
BEST SHOWSTOPPER: Acid attack (Coronation Street)
BEST DRAMA STAR: Nigel Harman (Max Cristie, Casualty)
BEST DAYTIME STAR: Chris Walker (Rob Hollins, Doctors)
SOAP SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR: Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell, EastEnders)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Nikki Sanderson (Maxine Minniver, Hollyoaks)
Inside Soap editor, Gary Gillatt, said: ‘The beautifully played story of young mum Lola’s cancer diagnosis, and her final few life-affirming months, captivated Inside Soap readers this year, and won out against powerful work from all the other shows. And the Best Soap win is well-deserved. It’s been a golden year for EastEnders – a true renaissance.’
Elsewhere, Coronation Street’s Maureen Lipman was awarded Best Comic Performance for the third year for her role as the acid-tongued, Evelyn Plummer.
The ITV soap opera also took home the Best Showstopper gong – awarded to a showcase stunt or episode – for its powerful acid attack story involving Ryan Prescott (Ryan Connor) and Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley).
Todd Boyce was named Best Villain for his portrayal of Stephen Reid, whose serial killer antics have dominated the action on the soap opera across 2023.
Other formidable faces nominated in the category included Coronation Street’s Andrew Still, who plays stalker Justin Rutherford, EastEnders’ Aaron Thiara (Ravi Gulati) and Emmerdale’s William Ash (Caleb Miligan).
And Channique Sterling-Brown, who plays go-getting solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey, secured further success for the show as she took home the Best Newcomer award.
She beat EastEnders’ Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater) – who made his debut on Strictly Come Dancing last week – and Emmerdale’s Flo Wilson and Lewis Cope to the gong.
Also nominated were Coronation Street’s Jodie Prenger and Hollyoaks stars Jemma Donovan and Jon-Paul Bell.
Emmerdale soared to success in the Best Partnership category, which was won by Mark Charnock and Dominic Brunt for their beloved double-act as Marlon and Paddy.
It comes after Marlon helped to save Paddy’s life as his friend went through his darkest hour in very powerful scenes that aired earlier this year.
Fan favourite: Elsewhere, Coronation Street’s Maureen Lipman was awarded Best Comic Performance for the third year for her role as the acid-tongued, Evelyn Plummer
Tragic: The ITV soap also took home the Best Showstopper gong – awarded to a showcase stunt or episode – for its powerful acid attack story involving Ryan Prescott (Ryan Connor)
The exuberant Dingle clan – always at the centre of the Emmerdale action – were named Best Family, beating EastEnders’ The Mitchells and The Trueman-Fox-Brannings, and Coronation Street’s The Platts and The Winter-Browns, among others.
Inside Soap readers named Chris Walker their Best Daytime Star for his moving portrayal of widowed police officer Rob Hollins in Doctors, while Casualty’s Nigel Harman came fresh from a Strictly Come Dancing training session to collect the Best Drama Star trophy for his role as Dr Max Cristie.
The prestigious Outstanding Achievement award went to Nikki Sanderson to mark more than a decade playing Hollyoaks’ Maxine Minniver, and her work on this year’s Long Walk Home storyline.
Previous Outstanding Achievement winners include EastEnders’ late star June Brown (Dot Cotton) – who died in April last year – and Coronation Street’s Helen Worth (Gail Platt).
Inside Soap editor, Gary Gillatt, commented: ‘The big storylines of 2023 often proved a harrowing watch.
Close pals: Emmerdale also found success in the Best Partnership category, which was won by Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock for their beloved double-act as Paddy and Marlon
Busy! Casualty’s Nigel Harman came fresh from a Strictly Come Dancing training session to collect the Best Drama Star trophy for his role as Dr Max Cristie
‘Cancer, stalking, misogyny and depression were the major themes tackled this year, and our trophies are awarded by an audience who’ve clearly responded to these challenging episodes.
‘Though they’re also relieved to have Marlon and Paddy’s banter and Evelyn’s one-liners to lift the mood!’
More than 90,000 soap fans vote each year in The Inside Soap Awards, and they remain – after three decades – the only accolades of their kind to be awarded based solely on the votes of viewers.
The first issue of Inside Soap was published in October 1992 and is now a weekly title published by Hearst UK.
INSIDE SOAP AWARDS 2023: WINNERS IN FULL
BEST ACTRESS
Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgely, Coronation Street)
Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow, Coronation Street)
Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
WINNER: Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce-Brown, EastEnders)
Diane Parish (Denise Fox, EastEnders)
Shona McGarty (Whitney Dean, EastEnders)
Claire King (Kim Tate, Emmerdale)
Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle, Emmerdale)
Louise Jameson (Mary Goskirk, Emmerdale)
Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Lucy-Jo Hudson (Donna-Marie Quinn, Hollyoaks)
Nikki Sanderson (Maxine Minniver, Hollyoaks)
BEST ACTOR
David Neilson (Roy Cropper, Coronation Street)
Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street)
Ryan Prescott (Ryan Connor, Coronation Street)
James Farrar (Zack Hudson, EastEnders)
WINNER: Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown, EastEnders)
Perry Fenwick (Billy Mitchell, EastEnders)
Dominic Brunt (Paddy Dingle, Emmerdale)
Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)
Kevin Mathurin (Charles Anderson, Emmerdale)
Gregory Finnegan (James Nightingale, Hollyoaks)
Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox, Hollyoaks)
Richard Blackwood (Felix Westwood, Hollyoaks)
BEST VILLAIN
Andrew Still (Justin Rutherford, Coronation Street)
WINNER: Todd Boyce (Stephen Reid, Coronation Street)
Aaron Thiara (Ravi Gulati, EastEnders)
William Ellis (Theo Hawthorne, EastEnders)
Jane Gurnett (Faye Helders, Emmerdale)
William Ash (Caleb Miligan, Emmerdale)
Angus Castle-Doughty (Eric Foster, Hollyoaks)
Glynis Barber (Norma Crow, Hollyoaks)
BEST COMIC PERFORMANCE
WINNER: Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
Patti Clare (Mary Taylor, Coronation Street)
Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater, EastEnders)
Shane Richie (Alfie Moon, EastEnders)
Samantha Giles (Bernice Blackstock, Emmerdale)
Tony Audenshaw (Bob Hope, Emmerdale)
Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Diane Langton (Marlena ‘Nana’ McQueen, Hollyoaks)
BEST NEWCOMER
WINNER: Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey, Coronation Street)
Jodie Prenger (Glenda Shuttleworth, Coronation Street)
Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater, EastEnders)
Harriet Thorpe (Elaine Peacock, EastEnders)
Flo Wilson (Claudette Anderson, Emmerdale)
Lewis Cope (Nicky Miligan, Emmerdale)
Jemma Donovan (Rayne Royce, Hollyoaks)
Jon-Paul Bell (Beau Ramsey, Hollyoaks)
BEST PARTNERSHIP
David Neilson & Maureen Lipman (Roy Cropper & Evelyn Plummer, Coronation Street)
Sally Dynevor & Joe Duttine (Sally & Tim Metcalfe, Coronation Street)
Balvinder Sopal & Heather Peace (Suki Panesar & Eve Unwin, EastEnders)
Emma Barton & Perry Fenwick (Honey & Billy Mitchell, EastEnders)
WINNER: Dominic Brunt & Mark Charnock (Paddy & Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)
Kevin Mathurin & Rebecca Sarker (Charles Anderson & Manpreet Sharma, Emmerdale)
Anna Passey & Matthew James Bailey (Sienna Blake & Ethan Williams, Hollyoaks)
Ruby O’Donnell & Niamh Blackshaw (Peri Lomax & Juliet Nightingale, Hollyoaks)
BEST YOUNG PERFORMER
Isabella Flanagan (Hope Stape, Coronation Street)
Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street)
WINNER: Isabella Brown (Lexi Pearce, EastEnders)
Lillia Turner (Lily Slater, EastEnders)
Alfie Clarke (Arthur Thomas, Emmerdale)
Gabrielle Dowling (Cathy Hope, Emmerdale)
Ela-May Demircan (Leah Barnes, Hollyoaks)
Jayden Fox (Bobby Costello, Hollyoaks)
BEST FAMILY
The Platts (Coronation Street)
The Winter-Browns (Coronation Street)
The Mitchells (EastEnders)
The Trueman-Fox-Brannings (EastEnders)
The Andersons (Emmerdale)
WINNER: The Dingles (Emmerdale)
The Maaliks (Hollyoaks)
The McQueens (Hollyoaks)
BEST STORYLINE
Amy did not consent (Coronation Street)
Daisy’s stalker/acid attack (Coronation Street)
WINNER: Loving and losing Lola (EastEnders)
Whitney and Zack say goodbye to Peach (EastEnders)
Caleb plots to destroy Kim (Emmerdale)
Paddy’s suicidal thoughts (Emmerdale)
Incel Eric targets Maxine and Mason (Hollyoaks)
Juliet’s cancer battle (Hollyoaks)
BEST SHOWSTOPPER
WINNER: Acid attack (Coronation Street)
Gemma and Chesney’s wedding (Coronation Street)
Mick jumps off a cliff to save Linda and Janine (EastEnders)
Cindy Beale: back from the dead! (EastEnders)
Marlon saves Paddy (Emmerdale)
The storm/50th anniversary (Emmerdale)
Maxine’s long walk home (Hollyoaks)
Silas’ revenge/carnival horror (Hollyoaks)
BEST DAYTIME STAR
WINNER: Chris Walker (Rob Hollins, Doctors)
Dex Lee (Bear Sylvester, Doctors)
Jan Pearson (Karen Hollins, Doctors)
Kia Pegg (Scarlett Kiernan, Doctors)
Ada Nicodemou (Leah Poulos, Home and Away)
Jacqui Purvis (Felicity Newman, Home and Away)
James Stewart (Justin Morgan, Home and Away)
Matt Evans (Theo Poulos, Home and Away)
BEST DRAMA STAR
Charles Venn (Jacob Masters, Casualty)
Elinor Lawless (Stevie Nash, Casualty)
Kirsty Mitchell (Faith Cadogan, Casualty)
WINNER: Nigel Harman (Max Cristie, Casualty)
Adam Abbou (Danny Lewis, Waterloo Road)
Adam Thomas (Donte Charles, Waterloo Road)
Angela Griffin (Kim Campbell, Waterloo Road)
Kym Marsh (Nicky Walters, Waterloo Road)
BEST SOAP
Coronation Street
WINNER: EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
SOAP SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell, EastEnders)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
WINNER: Nikki Sanderson (Maxine Minniver, Hollyoaks)
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