Neighbours fans left in tears as British Soap Awards pays tribute

Neighbours fans were left ‘absolutely broken’ and in tears on Saturday as the British Soap Awards paid tribute to the axed show.

The long-running Australian programme came to an end after Channel 5 decided in March not to renew its contract with production company Fremantle to finance and broadcast the series.      

Ahead of it’s emotional star-studded final episode this autumn, Phillip Schofield introduced a tribute to the Ramsay Street soap early in proceedings at the star-studded bash. 

End of an era: Neighbours fans were left ‘absolutely broken’ on Saturday night as the British Soap Awards paid tribute to the axed soap (Jackie Woodburne and Ian Bishop pictured)

In a pre-recorded clip, Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan Kennedy thanked the soap’s British fanbase for tuning in for all these years.

She said: ‘For 37 years, despite being on the other side of the world from one another, you soap fans in the UK have very much been a part of our special community here.

‘Neighbours has meant the world to me. For 28 years I’ve come here everyday to do the thing that I love with people who have become family and I hope along the way we have become part of your family too.’

The awards ceremony then aired an epic montage clip of the soap’s highlight’s over the decades, featuring Hollywood stars including Margot Robbie and Liam Hemsworth.

End of an era: The entire cast of Neighbours posed for their final group photo together to mark their last ever day of filming in Melbourne on Thursday

Fans tuning in were left emotional and flocked to Twitter to grieve the loss of the soap.

One wrote: ‘The #Neighbours tribute has absolutely broken me. One of the best of the best of soap operas, and it’ll be one of biggest losses to the TV landscape we’ll ever see. A true telly icon and institutions that should’ve run forever. #SoapAwards.’

Another tweeted: ‘Beautiful #Neighbours montage. My heart goes out to all the cast who have sadly lost their jobs. It really is the end of an era. #SoapAwards.’

‘Phenomenal acting, excellent production and storylines… Well miss you @neighbours’, a fan said.

It’s all over: Fans were left in tears as they said goodbye to their favourite soap 

 A heartbroken social media user posted: ‘I literally cried watching that montage neighbours is going to be missed’

While a super fan said: ‘I’m going to miss Neighbours so much as I have been a fan and watching it for 22 years now just one the greatest show. #Neighbours’.

The British Soap Award returned live to ITV for the first time in two years after the 2020 and 2021 ceremonies were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In its place in 2020, ITV instead aired a 60-minute special titled The British Soap Awards Celebrates 21 Years, narrated by long-running presenter Phillip Schofield.

This year, host Phillip Schofield, 60, welcomed a plethora of soap stars to London’s Hackney Empire, where they’ll battle it out to scoop prizes in 14 categories.

Upset: Fans tuning in were left emotional and flocked to Twitter to grieve the loss of the soap

The awards are either voted for by a panel of expert judges or the public, with fans able to choose their favourites for Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer and Best Family categories.

Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year that The British Soap Awards opted to axe the male and female categories.

Instead of Best Actor and Actress, stars from much-loved British soaps will battle it out for the newly-created new Best Leading Performer award. 

The move follows The Brits which scrapped gender classifications this year, with Adele beating Ed Sheeran to Artist of the Year. 

Past winners of the Best Actress award include Lucy Pargeter (who plays Chas Dingle in Emmerdale), Lucy Fallon (who plays Bethany Platt in Coronation Street) and Charlotte Bellamy (who plays Laurel Thomas in Emmerdale).

 It follows the award for Sexiest Male and Female, voted by the public, being axed in 2015.

The five biggest soaps – Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – will be battling it out to win recognition for their work over the past year. 

And after a stellar year of drama-filled storylines, the competition is set to be fierce.

Coronation Street will no doubt be hoping to scoop gongs for their harrowing hate crime storyline which saw Seb Franklin and Nina Lucas attacked, ultimately resulting in Seb’s death.

He’s back! This year, host Phillip Schofield, 60, welcomed a plethora of soap stars to London’s Hackney Empire, where they’ll battle it out to scoop prizes in 14 categories

While over on Emmerdale, serial killer Meena Jutla’s long reign of terror could bag the Leeds-based soap an award or two.

Speaking of serial killers, EastEnders saw viewers on the edge of their seats as murderer Gray Atkins continued to avoid being arrested for his crimes – until justice finally caught up with him.

While Hollyoaks saw Summer Ranger (Rhiannon Clements) set out to destroy Brody Hudson (Adam Woodward) for his role in her father’s death. 

Meanwhile Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) and his wife Karen’s (Jan Pearson) relationship was left in the balance in Doctors. 

British Soap Awards 2022: The Winners

British Soap

Coronation Street 

Doctors

EastEnders

Emmerdale – WINNER

Hollyoaks

Leading Performer 

Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) – EastEnders

Linda Henry (Shirley Carter) – EastEnders

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) – Emmerdale – WINNER

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) – Emmerdale

 Family 

The Alahans – Coronation Street

The Carters – EastEnders

The Dingles – Emmerdale – WINNER

The McQueens – Hollyoaks

Coronation Street: Sally Carman as Abi Webster

Villain 

Maximus Evans (Corey Brent) – Coronation Street – WINNER

Laura White (Dr Princess Buchanan) – Doctors

Toby-Alexander Smith (Gray Atkins) – EastEnders

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) – Emmerdale

Rhiannon Clements (Summer Ranger) – Hollyoaks

Coronation Street: Maximus Evans as Corey Brent

Comedy Performer

Jane Hazelgrove (Bernie Winter) – Coronation Street

Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman) – Doctors

Tameka Empson (Kim Fox) – EastEnders – WINNER

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Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) – Emmerdale

Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen) – Hollyoaks

Newcomer 

Paddy Bever (Max Turner) – Coronation Street

Ross McLaren (Luca McIntyre) – Doctors

Ross Boatman (Harvey Monroe) – EastEnders – WINNER

Darcy Grey (Marcus Dean) – Emmerdale

Matthew James-Bailey (Ethan Williams) – Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks: Chelsee Healey as Goldie McQueen

 

Best Storyline 

Coronation Street – Hate Crime

Doctors – Bear and his mother encounter racism at St Phil’s Hospital

EastEnders – Jean’s Bipolar

Emmerdale – Meena Serial Killer

Hollyoaks – Misbah’s Historic Rape – WINNER

Single Episode 

Coronation Street – Flashback

Doctors – Three Consultations and a Funeral – WINNER

EastEnders – Jean in Southend

Emmerdale – Marlon’s stroke

Hollyoaks – Out of Time

Emmerdale: Mark Charnock as Marlon Dingle 

Dramatic Performance 

Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street

Dex Lee (Bear Sylvester) – Doctors

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) – EastEnders

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) – Emmerdale – WINNER

Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik) – Hollyoaks

On-screen partnership  

David Neilson & Mollie Gallagher (Roy Cropper & Nina Lucas) – Coronation Street

Chris Walker & Jan Pearson (Rob Hollins & Karen Hollins) – Doctors

Lacey Turner & Gillian Wright (Stacey Slater and Jean Slater) – EastEnders – WINNER

Isobel Steele & Bradley Johnson (Liv Flaherty & Vinny Dingle) – Emmerdale

Anna Passey & Kieron Richardson (Sienna Blake & Ste Hay) – Hollyoaks

EastEnders: Gillian Wright as Jean Slater

Young performer 

Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan) – Coronation Street – WINNER

Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon) – EastEnders

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor) – Emmerdale

Jayden Fox (Bobby Costello) – Hollyoaks

Scene of the year 

Coronation Street – Johnny’s Death

Doctors – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

EastEnders – Hall of Mirrors

Emmerdale – Bridge Collapse

Hollyoaks – Misbah Didn’t Consent – WINNER     

 

The Outstanding Achievement Award went to EastEnders legend Letitia Dean for her portrayal of Sharon Watts

 The Tony Warren Award went to Coronation Street scriptwriter Jan McVerry