“BRITISH Soap Awards viewers accused ITV of “cutting chants” for EastEnders’ Laura Doddington on a night when the BBC soap dominated its rivals. Ironically, the alleged quieting of cheers for Laura came during the Best Newcomer gong, which was won by Hollyoaks’ Isabelle Smith. 3 Laura Doddington’s name was chanted by the British Soap Awards”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
Ironically, the alleged quieting of cheers for Laura came during the Best Newcomer gong, which was won by Hollyoaks’ Isabelle Smith.
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Laura Doddington’s name was chanted by the British Soap Awards audienceCredit: Alamy
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Isabelle Smith picked up the Best Newcomer gongCredit: GettyWhile viewers accepted Francine Osborne actress Isabelle was a worthy winner, they were keen for popular Laura, who plays Nicola Mitchell, to get her flowers.
One person wrote on X: “ITVX cutting the chants for Laura is EVIL.”
Another said: “I was gutted Laura didn’t win this award but the huge (edited out) chants of “Laura! Laura! Laura!” from the audience hopefully made up for it.”
A third fumed: “Naw as if they cut out our chant for Laura Dodington…fuming.”
In total, Enders scooped eight awards on the night including the coveted Best Soap, Best Leading Performer and Scene of the Year.
The televised ceremony got off to a nightmare start when a tech issue forced it off air for seven minutes.
An apology message read: “We’re sorry for the disruption.”
Fans were quick to take to social media with their complaints.
One wrote: “What the hell is going on ? Will it ever come on?”
A second said: “Oh dear looks like we got major problems on ITV1.”
A third commented: “Well, I guess I am not watching The Soap Awards on ITVX. What’s going on?”
While other fans thought the broadcaster was deliberately sabotaging the awards in response to EastEnders’ big win.
One wrote: “British Soap Awards not on are ITV going to be sorry for the disruption for the next 2 hours just because EastEnders won almost everything.”
Coronation Street had a night to forget, bagging just the specially curated Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Roy Cropper star David Neilson.
The show failed to secure wins in any of the main panel or viewer-voted categories amid ITV’s ongoing cash crisis and the mass cast exodus at the soap over the past six months.
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Laura plays Nicola Mitchell in EastEnders and has been tipped for an ward next yearCredit: BBC
Here’s who took home trophys at the 2025 British Soap Awards
Best Young Performer – Emmerdale – Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor
Scene Of The Year – Eastenders: Angie Watts’ Shock Return
Villain Of The Year – Eastenders: Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar
Best Family – Hollyoaks: The Osbornes
Best Dramatic Performance – Eastenders: Steve McFadden as Phil
Mitchell
Best On-Screen Partnership – Eastenders: Rudolph Walker & Angela
Wynter as Patrick & Yolande Trueman
Outstanding Achievement Award – Coronation Street: David Neilson
Best Comedy Performance – Eastenders: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson
The Tony Warren Award – Emmerdale: Mike Plant
Best Storyline – Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse
Best Leading Performer – Eastenders: Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater
Best British Soap – Eastenders