ANNIVERSARY WIN
EastEnders wins TV BAFTA for best soap after Emmerdale was forced to withdraw from nominations
Emmerdale had to withdraw after one of its top writers admitted to a serious crime
EASTENDERS have won the TV BAFTA for best soap after their rival soap Emmerdale was forced to withdraw from the nominations.
The glittering star studded ceremony took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall and was aired on BBC One last night.
4
4
4
The soap's Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw accepted the award alongside cast members - other shows in the category were BBC's Casualty and ITV's Coronation Street.
Chris said thank you to the soap's fans and explained that without their love they wouldn't have been able to celebrate 40 years of the show.
Emmerdale had to withdraw its entry from Bafta's Best Soap and Continuing Drama category after one of its top writers admitted to assaulting his partner.
The show stood a high chance of taking home the gong at this year's ceremony celebrating the best of the TV world, which took place tonight.
EastEnders
But they felt it was inappropriate given they would have been winning on the back of featuring a domestic abuse storyline.
Bosses at Emmerdale decided they couldn't remain in the running for the award, after one of its creative team, Martin Fustes, attacked his girlfriend.
Martin admitted to the offence at Hull Crown Court and quit his job on the Yorkshire-based show, which is now one of ITV's biggest programmes.
The Bafta team wrote to members of Bafta telling them that the soap bosses had decided to withdraw from the awards this year.
Most read in News TV
They explained that it was in consideration of recent news involving a member of their scriptwriting team.
The move severely disrupted the judging process for the category and those who were voting on the winner were contacted by Bafta.
EastEnders fans left in tears at heartbreaking twist in ‘perfect’ VE episode
An Emmerdale spokeswoman said: "ITV and Emmerdale have taken the decision to withdraw the episode nominations from this year's BAFTA TV Awards.
"This is in consideration of developments in recent days involving a member of the scriptwriting team."
Emmerdale won plaudits for its handling of its domestic abuse storyline involving Belle, who was the victim of coercive behaviour meted out by Tom.
Other winners included the Bafta reality prize which went to Channel 4's The Jury: Murder Trial, beating the hit BBC psychological series The Traitors.
Bafta TV 2025 Winners List
Here's everyone who has taken home an award at the 2025 ceremony
Drama Series: Blue Lights
Leading Actor: Lennie James, Mr Loverman
Leading Actress: Marisa Abela, Industry
Entertainment: Would I Lie To You?
Entertainment Performance: Joe Lycett - Late Night Lycett
Factual Series: To Catch a Copper
Factual Entertainment: Rob & Rylan's Grand Tour
International: Shogun
Supporting Actor: Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman
Supporting Actress: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Limited Drama: Mr Bates Vs The Post Office
Male Performance in a Comedy: Danny Dyer, Mr Bigstuff
Female Performance in a Comedy: Ruth Jones, Gavin and Stacey
Fellowship: Kirsty Wark
News Coverage: BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special
Reality: The Jury: Murder Trial
Scripted Comedy: Alma’s Not Normal
Short Form: Quiet Life
Single Documentary: Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods
Special Award: ITV - Mr Bates Vs The Post Office
Soap: EastEnders
Live Event Coverage: Glastonbury 2024
Specialist Factual: Atomic People
Sports Coverage: Paris 2024 Olympics, BBC One
Children’s Non-Scripted: Disability and Me (FYI Investigates)
Children’s Scripted: Cbeebies As You Like It At Shakespeare’s Globe
Current Affairs: State of Rage
Daytime: Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure
P&O Cruises Memorable Moment: Strictly Come Dancing - Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell dance to You'll Never Walk Alone
Ariyon Bakare won the best supporting actor gong at the Bafta TV Awards for his role playing Morris De La Roux in BBC drama Mr Loverman.
The BBC also won the sport award for its coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics and an award in the live coverage category for Glastonbury Festival.
Best specialist factual went to BBC Two's Atomic People, which heard from those who witnessed the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Read More on The Sun
The female performance in a comedy Bafta was snapped up by Welsh comedian Ruth Jones for BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey: The Finale.
"I'm not going to lie this is immense," she said. "The person I would like to thank most his my dear, dear talented friend James Corden."
4
Topics