Jane McDonald Makes a Triumphant Return to the British Soap Awards
The spotlight is swinging back to Jane McDonald. After a year off, she's coming back to host the British Soap Awards in 2025, bringing her signature warmth and energy to what fans call the most electric night in British TV. Her return comes on the heels of Phillip Schofield’s much-publicized departure in 2023, which left viewers guessing who might step up. With the awards missing from the calendar for a year, you could almost feel the collective groan among soap fans. McDonald’s presence is set to reignite the buzz around the show just as ITV gears up for some bold changes to how it serves up soap drama.
The 2025 ceremony will see the heavyweights—Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, and Doctors—competing for bragging rights. These soaps, with their mix of fiery storylines and memorable characters, form the backbone of nightly British entertainment. Audiences love the drama that’s both relatable and larger than life, and the British Soap Awards have always provided the moment to celebrate the best and most jaw-dropping scenes of the year.
ITV Steps Up Its Soap Game
Behind the scenes, ITV is rolling out its biggest shakeup for soap fans in years. They're not just bringing back the award show—they’re changing how millions will watch their favourite soaps starting in 2026. Here’s the headline: ITV is launching a new ‘soaps power hour’ on ITV1. Instead of spreading out episodes, Emmerdale will air at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm, both as tight 30-minute episodes. Why does that matter? It means your nightly soap fix is now front-and-centre, right in primetime TV. Plus, if you’re the binge-watching type or prefer catching up early, episodes will hit ITVX from 7am every day.
This move reflects changing habits—more people are turning to streaming services to watch on their own schedules. ITV knows it can’t just rely on traditional TV. That’s why it launched a dedicated soap hub on ITVX in 2024, giving superfans a one-stop shop for behind-the-scenes previews, interviews, and all the drama in one place. And let’s not overlook the marketing push: ITV is promising extra muscle behind its soap coverage with tailored campaigns, teasers, and, you guessed it, more soap hype across its platforms.
For those who practically grew up with these shows, it’s clear ITV is doubling down—not just to keep the current audience, but to rope in young viewers who might have missed the soap bug the first time around. It looks like the next few years will bring fresh energy and fierce competition, both on screen and behind the scenes. With Jane back in the host’s chair for the big awards night, and a savvy new strategy to get soaps in front of more people, there’s plenty for fans to be excited about.
June 1 2025 0
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