The British Soap Awards after party was evacuated after a ‘bomb threat’ security alert on Saturday night – as the stars were forced to leave the venue following the glitzy ceremony.

Stars of the country’s favourite soaps descended on Hackney Empire in London on Saturday for the annual bash which was hosted by Jane McDonald. 

They then headed on to Hackney Town Hall for the afterparty when just before 1am a call which was deemed a security threat was made.

The security team ensured swift protocols were followed and everyone was evacuated safely whilst the threat was investigated.

A source told The Mirror of what happened: ‘We all got evacuated just before 1am. No reason was given at first and security came round and told us we had to leave immediately.

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The British Soap Awards after party was evacuated after a security alert on Saturday night – as the stars were forced to leave the venue following the glitzy ceremony (Tina O’Brien seen leaving)

The stars headed on to Hackney Town Hall for the afterparty when just before 1am a call which was deemed a security threat was made (Jamie Winston and Patsy Palmer leaving)

‘As we all waited in the street outside, security told us there had been a bomb threat. We weren’t allowed back in the building so people started making their way home.’

Video footage shared with the publication showed soap stars such as EastEnders’ Tameka Empson and Hollyoaks hunk Emmett J Scanlan waiting around on the street outside the venue.

It was reported that after it was clear no one would be let back in many started to slowly just head home.

An ITV spokesperson said ‘Owing to a security alert after the recording of the awards, it was necessary to evacuate the after party venue. 

‘Everyone was cleared from the building safely.’ 

It was a good night for the residents of Walford as EastEnders emerged as the victor of this year’s British Soap Awards with eight gongs.

It was the BBC’s EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one.

They kicked off their wins with Best Episode which went to Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985.

The security team ensured swift protocols were followed and everyone was evacuated safely whilst the threat was investigated (Patsy Kensit)

Emmerdale’s Amelia Flanagan won Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor and was seen leaving the venue 

It was a good night for the residents of Walford as EastEnders emerged as the victor of this year’s British Soap Awards with eight gongs (Patsy Palmer won Best Comedy Performance)

EastEnders also won Scene of the Year for Angie Watts’ Shock Return while Navin Chowdhry won Best Villain for his role of Nish Panesar.

Steve McFadden, who plays fan favourite Phil Mitchell, won the Best Dramatic Performance award while Patsy Palmer won Best Comedic Performance for her role as Bianca Jackson.  

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.

Read More EastEnders leaves its rivals in the dust as show takes home 8 gongs at the British Soap Awards (and another series only receives one)

Hollyoaks’ three awards started with Isabelle Smith who won Best Newcomer for her role as Frankie Osborne.

The Osbornes then won the Best Family award while Hollyoaks’ sibling Sєxual abuse storyline received the Best Storyline award.

Emmerdale’s Amelia Flanagan won Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor 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.

Last year’s show was suddenly cancelled with no explanation after the nominees had 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. 

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.

Navin Chowdhry (right) won Best Villain for his role of Nish Panesar (pictured with Balvinder Sopal)

Hollyoaks’ three awards started with Isabelle Smith who won Best Newcomer for her role as Frankie Osborne

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 Dᴀss 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 Sєxual 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)