EastEnders has been snubbed at the National Television Awards, despite multiple nominations, leaving fans outraged. The awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Joel Dommett, took place live from London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday evening (September 11), celebrating the best of TV over the past year.
However, EastEnders enthusiasts were left disappointed as the BBC One soap failed to secure a single award, despite being nominated for Serial Drama Performance and Serial Drama.
Actress Angela Wynter was in the running for the best drama performance award for her role as Walford’s Yolande Trueman, alongside co-star Diane Parish who portrays Denise Fox.
Yet, it was Peter Ash who clinched the award for his portrayal of Paul Foreman in Coronation Street, following his character’s heartbreaking motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis.
EastEnders was also up against Casualty, Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks in the best serial drama category. However, it was rival soap Emmerdale that bagged the award, reports the Daily Star.
Fans of the BBC soap were left seething as EastEnders left the NTAs without any accolades. One disgruntled viewer wrote on X: “Emmerdale! Are you kidding me! #Eastenders , you were robbed. Robbed, i tell you #NTAs.”
Another chimed in: “Eastenders not winning best soap, this award show is a joke #NTAs,” while a third lamented: “EastEnders writers have been streets ahead of the rest the last year, surprised they didn’t get the recognition tonight. #NTAs.”
One viewer expressed: “Emmerdale has been good recently so deserved but EastEnders still robbed of the serial drama award #NTAs.” Another chimed in with: “Sounds like the #NTAs were a disaster across the board? Ant and Dec still winning somehow, Mrs.Browns Boys AND Eastenders not getting best soap? The NTAs are a scam! !”
