Inside Soap Awards 2025 shortlist dominated by EastEnders stars as Best Exit returns

The Inside Soap Awards 2025 shortlist has finally been revealed, with EastEnders' Steve McFadden and Lacey Turner tipped to dominate the acting categories as the Best Exit Award returns after a six-year hiatus.

Voting is open until 29 September, and the prize ceremony will take place in London on the same day. Turner, 37, who plays Stacey Slater, is set to leave EastEnders later this year.

Turner will face Corrie's Vicky Myers, Emmerdale's Beth Cordingly and Hollyoaks' Isabelle Smith in Best Actress; McFadden will compete against Jack P Shepherd, Jeff Hordley and Kieron Richardson in Best Actor.

Nominations for Best Storyline include Mason's death and Abi's PTSD in Coronation Street; Phil's mental health struggles in EastEnders; John's controversial 'hero complex' on Emmerdale; and Cleo's shocking abuse ordeal in Hollyoaks.

The Best Drama Star category presents two nominations for Casualty, and two for Waterloo Road, with actors Barney Walsh, Michael Stevenson, Jason Manford and Zak Sutcliffe listed.

Fans will decide the Best Family trophy among The Platts (Coronation Street), The Slaters (EastEnders), The Dingles (Emmerdale), and The Osbornes (Hollyoaks).

This year also marks the introduction of two Outstanding Achievement Awards, one for an individual and one for a creative team.

Editor Sarah Ellis said 2025 has been a year of shocks and surprises in soap, noting marquee moments such as John Sugden's reign of terror in Emmerdale, Martin's goodbye in EastEnders, Clare Devine's return in Hollyoaks, and the success of Swarla in Coronation Street.

Voting opened in July for 15 awards, with more than 80,000 Inside Soap readers casting votes to determine the nominees for the top categories.

The awards come as ITV's flagship soaps prepare a 2026 schedule overhaul, including reduced episode counts and a proposed power hour block.

Voting details and the full shortlist are available at insidesoap.co.uk/awards.