ITV has reportedly cancelled the British Soap Awards next year in a surprising move – but the prestigious event is believed to be “set to return” in 2025.
The awards ceremony took place on June 3 this year, where the best and brightest stars of the UK’s favourite soaps were out in force. It was hosted by TV star Jane McDonald after Phillip Schofield stepped quit ITV, stepping down from his presenting duties followingan "unwise but not illegal" affair with a much younger male colleague.
Phillip had described the British Soap Awards as his “last public commitment” before he quit presenting that, too.
Now, an ITV spokesperson has claimed to Metro.co.uk: “The British Soap Awards won’t be on air in 2024 but is set to return in 2025.
“The show was fantastically received in 2023, achieving consolidated figures of 2.9 million and doubling its audience year on year, so we look forward to the show’s return.”
OK! has contacted ITV representatives for comment.
FromEmmerdaletoCoronation Street and EastEnderstoHollyoaks,there was no shortage of talent in this year’s string of nominations.
BBC soap EastEnders won big at the awards as they picked up the gong for Best Soap, as well as picking up three other trophies.
Dannielle Harold, who played cancer-stricken Lola Pearce, won Best Leading Performer, while Ravi Gulati star Aaron Thiara took home the award for Best Villain. Lillia Turner, who plays Lily Slater, won the award for Best Young performer.
The next time the British Soap Awards will be back on our screen will also mark the first year that Doctors won’t be on air, as the BBC decided to axe the show.
A BBC spokesperson previously said: “We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years. With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site where the show is made, or to relocate it to another home.”
They went on to thank the cast of the show and said the funding for Doctors will be “reinvested into new programming” in the West Midlands region.
Hollyoaks is another show which has undergone change as it has been axed from the Channel 4 schedule in a dramatic shake-up, 28 years after the popular soap first launched.
The Chester-set serial drama, which lost out to EastEnders at the NTAs, will now be aired exclusively on E4, in a bid to reach the younger demographic.
It will also be shown on YouTube, as the channel aims to use streaming services to maximise viewership.
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