A few minutes into the British Soap Awards 2025, right when things were just getting started, ITV randomly cut out. Like, completely gone. The screen just flashed a “we’re having issues” message for what felt like forever—though it was actually around 7 minutes. It happened just after a short intro to the show, which makes it even weirder.
A lot of people watching live weren’t sure what was going on, and honestly, it felt pretty awkward. Everyone online was asking the same thing: “Did ITV just go down on purpose?” Especially since EastEnders was having a huge night. People were suspicious, and some even said they thought ITV might be trying to mute their wins.
EastEnders had a huge night—despite the drama
Even with the tech mess, EastEnders kind of stole the show. They walked away with 8 awards, including Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer (Lacey Turner), and Best Dramatic Performance (Steve McFadden). They also picked up Scene of the Year, and honestly, that felt well-deserved with the kind of storylines they’ve been putting out lately.
2025 marked their 40th anniversary, so this win made it extra special. You could really tell the cast and fans were feeling emotional about it. They’ve had a strong year, and it paid off. Not everyone expected them to dominate like that, but hey—they delivered.
Eastenders takes the award for 2025’s Best British Soap! Huge congratulations, what an absolutely amazing year! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n8Uc7hGurJ
— British Soap Awards (@SoapAwards) June 5, 2025
Other soaps didn’t leave empty-handed
It wasn’t just EastEnders that got some love. Hollyoaks picked up three awards, which surprised a few people. They got Best Storyline, Best Newcomer, and Villain of the Year. So they made their mark, for sure.
Emmerdale had a solid night too with two wins. One of them was Best Young Performer for Amelia Flanagan. Honestly, she’s been killing it for a while, so that one felt right. They also got the Tony Warren Award, which is always a big deal.
Coronation Street, though, kind of had a rough night. They only won one award—Outstanding Achievement, given to David Neilson for his role as Roy Cropper. That was well-earned, no doubt, but fans definitely expected more.
Viewers aren’t buying ITV’s excuse
People on social media didn’t hold back. A lot of them thought it was weird that ITV “broke down” right when EastEnders started winning big. Some fans even noticed parts of the show where audience cheers for EastEnders actors were suddenly muted or cut out.
Like when Laura Doddington (EastEnders) got a big reaction from the crowd and the volume just kind of dipped. That made people even more suspicious. While ITV hasn’t fully explained what happened, the timing made it look bad. Whether it was a genuine glitch or not, viewers felt robbed of the full experience.
What this says about the future of soaps
There’s a lot to take away from this. EastEnders is clearly back on top, and it’s looking like they’ve found their groove again. Hollyoaks and Emmerdale are hanging in strong, too, especially with younger audiences. Coronation Street might need to rethink a few things, though—it’s not just about nostalgia anymore.
As for ITV, this tech issue kind of overshadowed what was supposed to be a celebration. They’ve had a few problems lately with cuts and scheduling, and this just added fuel to the fire. People want a broadcaster they can trust, especially when it comes to big moments like this.
