The excitement was building as fans prepared to tune in to the British Soap Awards on Thursday night, but things quickly went sideways.
Instead of the usual glitz and glamour kicking off on time, viewers were stuck staring at a black screen for a frustrating seven minutes.
ITV apologized on-screen with a simple message: “We’re sorry for the disruption.”
This unexpected delay pushed the show’s start well past its scheduled 8 pm slot, leaving fans confused and annoyed.
Fans React with Frustration and Humor Online
The awards ceremony, which was actually recorded five days earlier, made the technical hiccup feel even more baffling to viewers.
Social media exploded with complaints and witty remarks about the needless delay.
Many were quick to point out that since the show wasn’t live, there was no excuse for the interruption.
Comments ranged from disbelief to outright sarcasm: “Sorry for the disruption?? The British Soap Awards isn’t even live!” and “It’s finally started! 7 minutes late… and it’s pre-recorded!”
Others joked about ITV’s failure, with some fans accusing the channel of deliberately messing things up because their own soaps didn’t win as much as rivals.
ITV’s Soaps Had a Tough Night Against Their Competitors
The biggest winner of the night was BBC’s EastEnders, which dominated with eight awards, while Channel 4’s Hollyoaks scooped three.
Meanwhile, ITV’s flagship soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, only took home three awards combined—two for Emmerdale and one for Coronation Street.
This disparity led some fans to accuse ITV of sabotage, joking that the broadcaster didn’t want viewers to see how well EastEnders performed.
Comments on X (formerly Twitter) included pointed remarks like: “ITV really don’t want us to see EastEnders winning all those awards,” and “Is this a clever tactic from ITV to avoid showing EastEnders wiping the floor with their soaps?”
Highlights and Emotional Moments from the Night
Despite the rocky start, the ceremony featured some truly memorable moments.
EastEnders kicked off its winning streak with the Best Episode award for “Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells in 1985.” Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, also won Best Dramatic Performance, delighting fans.
One of the most touching highlights was Anita Watts winning an award for her role reprising the iconic Angie Watts for the first time in 37 years.
Her cameo in the special anniversary episode, especially the emotional scenes with daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean), moved viewers to tears and was hailed as the “TV moment of the year.”
Other wins for EastEnders included Best Comedic Performance (Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson), Best Villain (Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar), Best On-Screen Partnership (Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter), Best Leading Performer (Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater), and the coveted Best British Soap award.
Special Presentations and Other Winners
Sir David Jason, beloved for Only Fools and Horses, presented the Best Soap award, bringing a touch of classic British TV charm to the stage.
Hollyoaks earned three awards, including Best Newcomer for Isabelle Smith and Best Family for The Osbornes, while Emmerdale’s Amelia Flanagan took home Best Young Performer, visibly emotional during her acceptance.
The only award for Coronation Street was the Outstanding Achievement Award, given to David Neilson, who has portrayed Roy Cropper for 30 years—a moment of recognition that was warmly received.
Behind-the-Scenes and Host Highlights
Mike Plant, a camera operator, received the Tony Warren Award, which honors the hardworking individuals behind the scenes who make these productions possible.
Hosting the event was Jane McDonald, a self-professed soap fanatic, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement two years ago and returned with infectious enthusiasm.
She expressed her joy at celebrating the incredible talent in the soap world, promising a sparkling and fun night ahead.
Gemma John-Lewis, ITV’s Entertainment Commissioner, emphasized how the awards showcase the incredible actors and production teams that bring these stories to life year-round.
What’s Next for the British Soap Awards?
Looking ahead, the British Soap Awards will no doubt aim to avoid the technical slip-ups of this year.
With loyal fans eager to celebrate their favorite soaps without interruptions, the next ceremony will hopefully be smooth sailing.
Meanwhile, EastEnders continues to enjoy a strong run, proving its enduring popularity.
ITV’s soaps will surely be looking to bounce back and win bigger next time around.
So, what’s next? Fans will be waiting to see if ITV irons out the kinks and whether the soap rivalries on screen continue to heat up off-screen as well.