EastEnders takes home NTAs 2025 Serial Drama Award in soap's dramatic 40th anniversary year
It was a big night for the soap, with Steve McFadden also winning.
The winner of best soap category at The National Television Awards 2025 has been announced - with EastEnders taking home the title.
The BBC One soap triumphed against four others in the Serial Drama category, with these being Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Casualty.
The win marked a big night for the soap, as it also picked up the Serial Drama Performance Award - Phil Mitchell star Steve McFadden took home the prize in that category, recognising his hard-hitting storyline this year around mental health and supporting friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) who is currently living with dementia.
EastEnders previously picked up the award in 2023, while it was won by Emmerdale in both 2024 and 2022. As with the other categories, the winner is entirely decided upon by public votes.
The soap's win comes after it celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year. Across a week-long period, episodes saw an explosion of the Queen Vic and the emotional death of Martin Fowler, James Bye's character, who was the first baby born on the soap.
Meanwhile, many stars also returned for cameos and more extended returns, including Ross Kemp and Anita Dobson, whose character Angie Watts appeared as a vision to support her daughter, Sharon.
This year has also seen a changing of the guard at EastEnders, as executive producer Chris Clenshaw moved on from his role leading the soap, with his final episode airing on Friday 13th June 2025.
The show's new boss Ben Wadey has subsequently stepped in as the new executive producer and has overseen storylines, including a reunion for Jessie Wallace's Kat Moon and Michelle Ryan's Zoe Slater.
Read More:
- 5 huge EastEnders questions after shock Max Branning return and Zoe Slater twists
- EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions
- EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama
- EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe"
- EastEnders' Scott Maslen argues soap will be "even more key" with stories as "the world's a mess"
- EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return
- EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories
- EastEnders needs to complete the Branning reunion with a Tanya return
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.
Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
