Inside Soap Awards 2025 shortlist revealed as EastEnders leads acting nods
EastEnders stars Steve McFadden and Lacey Turner top acting nominations as the Best Exit category returns after a six-year hiatus
The shortlist for the 2025 Inside Soap Awards has been revealed, with EastEnders dominating the acting nods as votes open for the fan-voted ceremony set to take place in London on September 29. The awards, published by Inside Soap magazine, will honor standout soap performances of 2025 across multiple categories, including Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Villain, Best Showstopper, Best Partnership, Best Exit, and more. The return of the Best Exit Award after a six-year absence is among the headline developments for this year’s ceremony.
EastEnders figures Steve McFadden and Lacey Turner lead the acting tussles, with McFadden’s Phil Mitchell up against Corrie’s Jack P Shepherd, Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley, and Hollyoaks’ Kieron Richardson in the Best Actor category. Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, is pitted against Corrie’s Vicky Myers, Emmerdale’s Beth Cordingly, and Hollyoaks’ Isabelle Smith in the Best Actress race. The nominations reflect a year of high-stakes drama across soaps, from family feuds to devastating shocks.
The Inside Soap Awards shortlist also places a spotlight on ongoing and high-profile storylines. 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” in Emmerdale, and Cleo’s abuse ordeal in Hollyoaks. In the Best Drama Star category, two nominations come from Casualty and two from Waterloo Road, with actors Barney Walsh, Michael Stevenson, Jason Manford, and Zak Sutcliffe listed among the contenders.
Fan engagement remains a cornerstone of the awards, with voting open since July for 15 different accolades and more than 80,000 Inside Soap readers having already cast their votes to narrow the field to the Top Four nominees in each category. The Best Family trophy is decided by readers’ choice among The Platts (Coronation Street), The Slaters (EastEnders), The Dingles (Emmerdale), and The Osbornes (Hollyoaks). In addition, a new development this year sees two Outstanding Achievement Awards: one honoring an enduring individual contribution and the other recognizing a long-running creative team.
Sarah Ellis, editor of Inside Soap magazine, underscored the surprises of 2025 while highlighting the awards’ place in fan culture. “2025 has been a year full of shocks and surprises in the world of soap. From John Sugden’s reign of terror in Emmerdale and Martin’s tragic goodbye in EastEnders, to villainous Clare Devine’s return from the dead in Hollyoaks, and the runaway success of Swarla in Coronation Street. But which of our top nominees will be taking home the trophies on the big night?” Ellis noted that the awards are uniquely voted for by soap fans, and that the “Soap Superstar” category invites readers to propose their own nominees.
In a broader context, the organizers also noted changes on the horizon for the 2026 TV year. The piece references a planned reduction in weekly episode counts for Coronation Street and Emmerdale, accompanied by a proposed shift toward a power-hour programming block and six-episode weeks for the two long-running soaps. While those schedule changes are separate from the Inside Soap Awards, they frame the evolving landscape in which these shows operate as fans prepare to vote.
The Inside Soap Awards will also honor a range of on-screen achievements, including two Best Showstopper contenders (with nominees such as Craig’s death in Coronation Street and other dramatic moments across the soaps) and numerous performances across The Platts, The Slaters, The Dingles, and The Osbornes in the Best Family category. The ceremony is scheduled for the same day as the voting deadline, underscoring the close relationship between fan engagement and the presentation of the awards. As always, Inside Soap emphasizes that the awards are the only trophies voted for entirely by the viewing public, reinforcing the sense of community and competition among soap audiences.
Images used here are provided by press materials and coverage associated with the Inside Soap Awards shortlist and do not imply endorsement. The news cycle surrounding the awards continues as fans submit their ballots and anticipation builds for the ceremony in London.