EastEnders has been named Best Soap at the British Soap Awards, winning the viewer-voted top prize. The BBC One programme saw off competition from Emmerdale and Coronation Street, with its recent storylines under executive producer Chris Clenshaw praised.
The soap also took home three other awards. Danielle Harold, who played Lola Pearce, won Best Leading Performer, while Aaron Thiara, who portrays Ravi Gulati, won Best Villain. Lillia Turner, who plays Lily Slater, won Best Young Performer for her role in a storyline about her character's pregnancy.
Coronation Street led the night with six awards. The Best Single Episode award went to the acid attack storyline, and Charlotte Jordan, who plays Daisy Midgeley, won Best Dramatic Performance. Maureen Lipman's Evelyn Plummer won Best Comedy Performer.
Hollyoaks won two awards, including Best Storyline, while Emmerdale and Doctors each received one trophy. The ceremony took place on Saturday, June 3, in Manchester and will air on ITV on Tuesday, June 6.
Philip Schofield was originally set to host but was replaced by Jane McDonald after he stepped down from ITV following a statement admitting to an affair with a younger male colleague.
