
British Soap Awards viewers accuse ITV of ‘cutting out' chants for EastEnders actress as BBC show dominates ceremony
Ironically, the alleged quieting of cheers for Laura came during the Best Newcomer gong, which was won by Hollyoaks' Isabelle Smith.
3
Laura Doddington's name was chanted by the British Soap Awards audience
Credit: Alamy
3
Isabelle Smith picked up the Best Newcomer gong
Credit: Getty
While viewers accepted Francine Osborne actress Isabelle was a worthy winner, they were keen for popular Laura, who plays Nicola Mitchell, to get her flowers.
One person wrote on X: "ITVX cutting the chants for Laura is EVIL."
Another said: "I was gutted Laura didn't win this award but the huge (edited out) chants of 'Laura! Laura! Laura!' from the audience hopefully made up for it."
A third fumed: "Naw as if they cut out our chant for Laura Dodington...fuming."
In total, Enders scooped eight awards on the night including the coveted Best Soap, Best Leading Performer and Scene of the Year.
The televised ceremony got off to a nightmare start when a tech issue forced it off air for seven minutes.
An apology message read: "We're sorry for the disruption."
Fans were quick to take to social media with their complaints.
One wrote: "What the hell is going on ? Will it ever come on?"
A second said: "Oh dear looks like we got major problems on ITV1."
Sharon Watts furiously punches rival Nicola Mitchell in new EastEnders feud
A third commented: "Well, I guess I am not watching The Soap Awards on ITVX. What's going on?"
While other fans thought the broadcaster was deliberately sabotaging the awards - which saw BBC rival EastEnders pick up a number of awards on the night.
One wrote: "British Soap Awards not on are ITV going to be sorry for the disruption for the next 2 hours just because EastEnders won almost everything."
Coronation Street suffered a devastating loss, bagging just the specially curated Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Roy Cropper star David Neilson.
The show failed to secure wins in any of the main panel or viewer-voted categories amid ITV's ongoing cash crisis and the mass cast exodus at the soap over the past six months.
3
Laura plays Nicola Mitchell in EastEnders and has been tipped for an ward next year
Credit: BBC
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders favourite joins rival soap – 20 years after being brutally killed off
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS favourite makes shock return to soap world - 20 years after brutal exit. A much-loved EastEnders star is back on our screens - but this time, they're shaking things up in Summer Bay, Australia. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Hannah Waterman played Laura Beale in EastEnders from 2000 to 2004 Credit: BBC 4 Her character was killed off after she fell down the stairs Credit: BBC Hannah Waterman made her Walford debut back in 2000 as Laura Beale. She was best known as Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) third wife. But, she was brutally killed off four years later when she went to answer the door and tripped over a toy before falling down the stairs and dying. Chaos followed as Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) found herself accused of murdering Laura - after a damning receipt turned up in Laura's flat following one of their explosive rows. The gripping death plot had fans hooked and went down as one of the most unforgettable moments in EastEnders history. Since her exit, Hannah has appeared in episodes of Doctors, The Bill, New Tricks and Holby City. She swapped the UK for Australia over adecade ago and made waves starring in Aussie dramas. Now based in Sydney, Hannah's credits include the Aussie-Indonesian hit Bali 2002. But, her new gig on Home and Away marks a proper return to the soap scene. This year, the iconic Aussie soap celebrated a whopping 35 years on air, with special reruns on a dedicated channel to mark the milestone. Forgotten soap star shows off huge £27million LA mansion after quitting fame and marrying a multimillionaire Home and Away first hit screens on January 17, 1988. Channel 5 snapped up the rights in 2000 - and they've been pumping out fresh episodes ever since. A source said: 'Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she's still acting. 'She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows it could mean she finds her way back more permanently.' Forgotten soap storylines The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more... Coronation Street Ken and Audrey's romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like "Ross and Rachel". In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals. After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like "Ross and Rachel". In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals. Beth's bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked - and Beth was arrested - the storyline didn't didn't go much further. EastEnders Kat Slater's secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled 'Redwater', it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott's not been mentioned since. Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled 'Redwater', it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott's not been mentioned since. Alfie's brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline. Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline. Kathy and Buster's affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons - Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn't even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass. Emmerdale Jacob's OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob's OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a 'lucky coin' that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations - such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla's drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing - the condition doesn't appear to have returned. After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob's OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a 'lucky coin' that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations - such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla's drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing - the condition doesn't appear to have returned. Marlon and Charity's fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris's supposed "murder". Hollyoaks Alex Browning's revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning's son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex's dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father's death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy's son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after. The new role comes three years after Hannah tied the knot to former The Bill star husband Huw Higginson. Huw is most notable for his ten-year role in The Bill as PC George Garfield. Huw posted a celebratory shot showing their special day in October 2022 as they posed with their son Jack, 11, on a boat in Sydney. The Bill actor gushed in his caption: "Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days." Hannah can be seen gazing lovingly at her spouse as they celebrated their special day. She wore a patterned, long-sleeve blue frock - perhaps as her something blue - complete with gold strappy sandals and a navy pashmina. She clutched a bouquet of cream flowers and accessorised with a pair of sunglasses. The happy couple made the move to Australia in 2014. It came after Hannah married fellow EastEnders star Ricky Groves in 2006. But, the pair separated in 2010 and divorced in 2014. 4 She moved to Australia 11 years ago with her actor husband Credit: Instagram


ITV News
40 minutes ago
- ITV News
Manchester-born Star Wars actor Kevin Colley dies aged 87
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87 after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent has said. The film and television actor from Manchester is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship. Colley's agent of 10 years, Julian Owen, issued a statement which said that he died 'peacefully' on Monday June 30 in Ashford, Kent. The statement said: 'He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia. He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside. 'Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC.' In later years he reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. He also had parts in international productions including Clint Eastwood's Firefox and the Second World War series War and Remembrance. The statement added: 'Ken's favourite part was playing Estragon in the stage production of Beckett's classic Waiting for Godot at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014. 'Ken's participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events all over the World where he remains one of the best loved actors from the original trilogy.' Ken loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars.'Colley is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside English actors' John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.


Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Cat Deeley just nailed this season's hottest trend on This Morning - shop her exact French Connection co-ord and other polka dot high street buys
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Cat Deeley just nailed this season's hottest trend on This Morning in a polka dot co-ord. The ITV presenter stunned in a matching two-piece outfit on Thursday's instalment of the daytime show. She wore a Strapless Polka Dot Peplum Top from French Connection, priced at £75 and the Polka Dot Maxi Skirt which retails for £89. The top features an elegant bandeau neckline and all-over polka dot print, keeping in style with this season's trends. While the skirt matches with similar black and white fabric boasting an elasticated waist and a slit along the back. Cat seemed to adjust the length of the skirt to just above her knee, making it more comfortable for the recent warmer weather and added a chunky black belt on the waist of her blouse, paired with black strappy heels. Strapless Polka Dot Peplum Top £75.00 Shop Polka Dot Maxi Skirt £89.00 Shop An alternative option to Cat's top can be found at Mango. The Polka-Dot Blouse With Ruffles retails for £29.99 and is available in a range of sizes. It features black polka dots on off-white viscose fabric and is cropped with a v-neckline. The Saskia Stretch Cotton Shir t can be found at Boden, reduced from £66 to £23.76. Made from 96% cotton, the blouse is a slightly more formal option and is long sleeved with a collar and ivory and navy dots. The fabric is described as being 'structured with a little stretch' and could be styled for either formal or casual occasions. While Anthropologie offers a more voluminous option with their Maeve Sleeveless Babydoll Bubble Blouse. Currently reduced from £78 to £45, the 100% cotton piece is sleeveless and boasts playful, puffy layers of polka dots. Polka-Dot Blouse With Ruffles £29.99 Shop Saskia Stretch Cotton Shirt £23.76 Shop Maeve Sleeveless Babydoll Bubble Blouse £45.00 Shop Long Polka-Dot Skirt £35.99 Shop As for Cat's skirt, Mango also offers a Long Polka-Dot Skirt for £35.99. The A-line cut skirt looks sophisticated and features a small dot print on off-white fabric. It could be paired with their matching polka-dot blouse or styled with another block of colour to add variety.