Moment 'gutted' Coronation Street star is caught grimacing in audience of British Soap Awards after being 'robbed' of win in 'diabolical' verdict
The annual ceremony took place on Saturday night at the Hackney Empire in London, but was broadcast last night, with a slew of the country's favourite soap stars in attendance and Jane McDonald playing host.
But amid the celebratory atmosphere, ITV viewers spotted a particularly disappointed nominee who was denied the chance to take home one of the coveted gongs.
Corrie actor Luca Toolan, who plays reformed bully Mason Radcliffe, looked very disappointed after rival BBC 's EastEnders nabbed the Best Single Episode award.
The soap star, 21, was up for the prize for his death episode in January, which saw him stabbed to death by his brothers for helping the police gather evidence against them for a murder they committed.
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Corrie actor Luca Toolan lost out to EastEnders' flashback episode, which saw Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) sink deeper into depression, hallucinating scenes from his adolescence at his family home in 1985
But he lost out to EastEnders' flashback episode, which saw Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) sink deeper into depression, hallucinating scenes from his adolescence at his family home in 1985.
Viewers at home said Luca, whose nominated scene ended his 18-month stint on the cobbles, looked 'furious' at the result.
One wrote on social media: 'The Mason actor didn't look too happy there.'
Another said: 'Oh no! Luca Toolan looked gutted.'
Others agreed with his disappointment, saying Coronation Street was robbed in the category: 'Sorry but that award should have gone to Luca for the knife crime story for Mason.';
'How has Corrie's storyline with Mason not won anything tonight? They went into detail with that and raised awareness for knife crime.';
'Excuse my language but how the f*** did Mason's death not win anything? Diabolical results.';
'Corrie robbed. Should've won for that Mason storyline.'
Others agreed with his disappointment, saying Coronation Street was robbed in the category
After serving jail time for possession of a knife, Mason returned to Weatherfield determined to turn over a new leaf.
But he soon found himself drawn back into trouble again as his brothers Matty and Logan (Seamus McGoff and Harry Lowbridge) came to hunt him down.
When Mason's friend Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) rushed to his defence, bringing a knife, the blade was seized from him and tragically used to stab Mason.
He was found by fellow Weatherfield resident Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine), who screamed for help and tried to apply pressure to his bleeding wounds.
Mason said to her: 'I'm going to die, aren't I? I'm going to die.'
Abi replied: 'You're not going to die. Mason, listen to me, an ambulance is on the way and you're not going to die.'
But with the paramedics distracted by a hoax call, his condition got much worse as he waited for them to arrive.
He was rushed to hospital accompanied by Abi and his friend Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin), where medics fought to save him.
But there was nothing to be done and the young lad soon died, leaving Abi and Betsy devastated and traumatised.
While Corrie won only one award at the Soap Awards - Outstanding Achievement for the long-serving David Neilson as Roy Cropper - EastEnders received eight gongs in its 40th anniversary year.
This is more than double the soap which won the next most awards at this year's ceremony - Hollyoaks, which took home three prizes.
But the night got off to a terrible start when it aired on Thursday, with the show being delayed for seven whole minutes due to technical difficulties.
Fans were greeted with a black screen from ITV with the message: 'We're sorry for the disruption'.
The channel was down for a long seven minutes, meaning the show didn't air until well past 8pm, when it was due to start.
And viewers were less than impressed, taking to social media to fume over the delay and insist that the ceremony should've been aired without a hitch as it was pre-recorded five days ago.
They raged: 'Sorry for the disruption?? The British Soap Awards isn't even live!'; 'not the soap awards failing to start'; 'And it's not even live!'
'Eh, soap awards? We've already waited 5 days for this! Get your act together.'; 'It's finally started! 7 mins late'; Oh fun just when the #britishsoapawards were about to start. #itv'.
'@ITV the British soap awards aren't even live, why tf is there a disruption?'; 'not the technical issue right as the soap awards start'.
'Soap awards are off to a cracking start with the sorry for the disruption screen'; 'SOMEONE CALL THE POLICE. BRITISH SOAP AWARDS ISNT WORKING'.
'Not us all having to wait 5 days for it, all the results leaked, and now THIS. Pull the over one @ITV'; 'Get on with it, it's not even live…'
While others accused ITV of deliberately sabotaging the show after their own soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, only won three gongs in total on the night, with their rivals sweeping the board.
BBC's EastEnders cleaned up with a whopping eight wins while Channel 4's Hollyoaks scored three, to Emmerdale 's two and Corrie's singular prize.
Fans took to X to quip: 'ITV really don't want us to see #EastEnders winning all those awards, do they'; ' itv really p***ed cos bbc won it all'.
'Omg British Soap Awards have frozen, is there anything ITV won't do to try and ruin #EastEnders beating their abysmal soaps?!?!'
'ITV don't want to air #BritishSoapAwards because they know how s**t Corrie did'; 'Not #EastEnders fans sabotaging the Soap Awards. THE POWER WE HAVE!'
'ITV doing anything to avoid airing the British Soap Awards'; 'ITV after reluctantly pressing the 'air' button on the #BritishSoapAwards'.
'is this a clever tactic from #ITV to try and avoid showing #EastEnders wiping the floor with all the itv soaps?'
'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.'
'Oooh itv getting salty about EastEnders winning the awards'; 'LOL THE SOAP AWARDS FAILING TO START! BBC has finally got it own back.'
The residents of Albert Square kicked off their wins with Best Episode which went to Phil's Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985.
While Steve McFadden, who plays fan favourite Phil Mitchell, also won the Best Dramatic Performance award.
Among the biggest moments of the night was Anita Watts scooping an award for her reprisal of the iconic Angie Watts for the first time in 37 years.
The actress returned as the Queen Vic's first landlady for EastEnders' special anniversary episode in February, in a heartbreaking cameo with daughter Sharon - played by Letitia Dean.
Her shock return left viewers stunned and in tears, with fans branding it the 'TV moment of the year', so her win came as no surprise.
EastEnders also won for Best Comedic Performance, going to Patsy Palmer for her role as Bianca Jackson, while Navin Chowdhry scooped the Best Villain gong for playing Nish Panesar.
Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter (Patrick & Yolande Trueman) delivered another win for EastEnders as they won Best On-Screen Partnership.
Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, won the Best Leading Performer Award and EastEnders also won the most coveted award of all: Best British Soap.
Another standout moment of the ceremony was Sir David Jason taking to the stage to present the coveted Best Soap award.
The Only Fools and Horses star, 85, cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit and bow tie as he announced EastEnders as the winner of the night's biggest prize.
Hollyoaks' three awards started with Isabelle Smith who won Best Newcomer for her role as Frankie Osborne.
Among the biggest moments of the night was Anita Watts scooping an award for her reprisal of the iconic Angie Watts for the first time in 37 years
EastEnders also won for Best Comedic Performance, going to Patsy Palmer for her role as Bianca Jackson
The Osbornes then won the Best Family award while Hollyoaks' sibling sexual abuse storyline received the Best Storyline award.
Meanwhile, Emmerdale's Amelia Flanagan was overcome with emotion as she was announced as the winner of Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor.
The 16-year-old - who previously won the prize for Best Young Performance for the role in 2015 - couldn't hid her shock as she took to the stage to accept the trophy.
The actress beat out Corrie's Will Flanagan, EastEnders star Sonny Kendall and Hollyoaks' Noah Holdsworth for the win.
While camera operator Mike Plant took home the Tony Warren Award which is given to employees working behind the scenes.
Coronation Street's sole gong of the night was the Outstanding Achievement Award which went to David Neilson who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years.
The technical troubles plaguing the awards this year come after last year's show was suddenly cancelled with no explanation, when the nominees had already been announced.
The June 2023 edition reached 5.7 million viewers in total with just under one million streams on ITVX and a peak of 3.2m viewers via its linear overnight broadcast.
The Osbornes then won the Best Family award while Hollyoaks' sibling sexual abuse storyline received the Best Storyline award (seen)
Meanwhile, Emmerdale's Amelia Flanagan was overcome with emotion as she was announced as the winner of Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor
Coronation Street's sole gong of the night was the Outstanding Achievement Award which went to David Neilson who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years
Singer and self-confessed soaps lover Jane, 61, stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Phillip Schofield two years ago after he quit ITV after admitting to an affair with a young male This Morning colleague.
Host Jane said: 'I'm beyond excited to be hosting The British Soap Awards again as I had such a ball hosting the awards last time.
'You all know I love my soaps, so to be in a room giving recognition to all these wonderful actors and their fantastic hard work is simply joyous. I can't wait to get my glittery frock on and celebrate with everyone.'
Meanwhile, Gemma John-Lewis, Entertainment Commissioner ITV said: 'The British Soaps Awards are an opportunity to celebrate and shine a light on the incredible actors and production teams that deliver gripping drama and captivating stories throughout the year.
'We're delighted Jane McDonald, a self proclaimed number one soap fan, is returning to host the awards.'
British Soap Awards 2025: Full List of Winners
Viewer Voted Categories:
Best British Soap:
Coronation Street
EastEnders - WINNER
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Best Leading Performer:
Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders) - WINNER
Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders)
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)
Villain of the Year:
Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street)
Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) - WINNER
Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale)
Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks)
Best Comedy Performance:
Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street)
Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) - WINNER
Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale)
Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Panel Voted Categories:
Best Family:
The Platts (Coronation Street)
The Slaters (EastEnders)
The Dingles (Emmerdale)
The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) - WINNER
Best Dramatic Performance:
Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street)
Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) - WINNER
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Best Single Episode:
Mason's death (Coronation Street)
Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) - WINNER
April's life on the streets (Emmerdale)
Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks)
Best On-Screen Partnership:
Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street)
Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) - WINNER
William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)
Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks)
Best Newcomer:
Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street)
Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders)
Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale)
Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) - WINNER
Best Storyline:
Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street)
Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders)
Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale)
Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) - WINNER
Best Young Performer:
Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street)
Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders)
Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) - WINNER
Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Scene of the Year:
Mason's death (Coronation Street)
Angie Watts' shock return (EastEnders) - WINNER
Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)
Mercedes confronts her mortality (Hollyoaks)
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