2023 British Soap Awards

{{Short description|None}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox award

| main = The British Soap Awards

| presenter = Various

| date = {{Start date|2023|06|03|df=y}}

| location = The Lowry, Salford

| country = United Kingdom

| network = {{Hlist|ITV1|ITVX|STV}}

| runtime = 120 minutes

| previous = 2022

| next = 2025

| most_awards = Coronation Street (6)

| host = Jane McDonald

}}

The 2023 British Soap Awards honoured the best in British soap operas throughout 2022 and 2023. The ceremony was held on 3 June 2023 at the Lowry theatre in Salford Quays, Salford, and was broadcast on ITV1, ITVX and STV three days later.{{cite news |last1=Sansome |first1=Jessica |title=British Soap Awards 2023 viewers instantly make the same complaint as star-studded ceremony airs on ITV |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/british-soap-awards-2023-viewers-27069211 |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=(Reach plc) |date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607153125/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/british-soap-awards-2023-viewers-27069211 |url-status=live }} The publicly voted categories were announced on 11 April 2023, with the vote opening that same day.{{cite news |last1=Cormack |first1=Morgan |title=British Soap Awards 2023 longlist: EastEnders' Ravi vs Corrie's Stephen |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/british-soap-awards-2023-longlist-newsupdate/ |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Radio Times |date=11 April 2023}} This included a longlist for the Best Leading Performer accolade, which included five cast members from each respective soap. Viewers could also vote for Villain of the Year for the first time since 2014, as well as being able to vote for Best Young Performer for the first time.{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=British Soap Awards 2023 announce longlist nominees and voting change |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43560524/british-soap-awards-2023-longlist/ |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Communications) |date=11 April 2023 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502041125/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43560524/british-soap-awards-2023-longlist/ |url-status=live }} The shortlist, including panel nominations, was released on 2 May 2023, alongside tickets for the ceremony being made available for sale.{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=British Soap Awards 2023 announces full shortlist and broadcast change |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43766925/british-soap-awards-2023-shortlist/ |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Communications) |date=2 May 2023 |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512225927/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43766925/british-soap-awards-2023-shortlist/ |url-status=live }}

Phillip Schofield, who had hosted the British Soap Awards since 2006, garnered media attention when he admitted to having an extramarital affair with a male ITV employee more than 30 years his junior and to lying about the relationship to ITV's management, his colleagues, his lawyers, his agents and others. He subsequently announced his decision to step down from the role a week prior to the ceremony.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=George |title=What happened with Phillip Schofield? This Morning exit explained |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/phillip-schofield-this-morning-exit-explained/ |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Radio Times |date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603155734/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/phillip-schofield-this-morning-exit-explained/ |url-status=live }} Jane McDonald was announced as his replacement.{{cite news |title=Jane McDonald to replace Phillip Schofield as British Soap Awards host |url=https://news.sky.com/story/jane-mcdonald-to-replace-phillip-schofield-as-british-soap-awards-host-12894170 |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Sky News |date=1 June 2023 |archive-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608091613/https://news.sky.com/story/jane-mcdonald-to-replace-phillip-schofield-as-british-soap-awards-host-12894170 |url-status=live }} Despite him being replaced by McDonald, protestors against Schofield stood amongst attendees at the barriers of the Lowry with posters about him and ITV.{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Ellie |title=Phillip Schofield: British Soap Awards hit with protests against presenter despite replacing host |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-phillip-schofield-protests-b2351338.html |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=The Independent |date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605075006/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-phillip-schofield-protests-b2351338.html |url-status=live }}

BBC soap EastEnders won all four viewer-voted categories including Best British Soap, while ITV soap Coronation Street won the majority of panel-voted awards.{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Kerry |title=The British Soap Awards 2023: winners, preview clips, ITV air date, new host and everything we know |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/the-british-soap-awards-2023-categories-nominations-how-to-vote-and-all-we-know |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=What to Watch |publisher=(Future plc) |date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503091247/https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/the-british-soap-awards-2023-categories-nominations-how-to-vote-and-all-we-know |url-status=live }} Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock won the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement for 27 years of appearing as Marlon Dingle.{{cite news |last1=Duke |first1=Simon |title=Emmerdale's Marlon actor Mark Charnock hits out at critics during Soap Awards |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdales-marlon-actor-mark-charnock-27070125 |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Leeds Live |publisher=(Reach plc) |date=7 June 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607155947/https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdales-marlon-actor-mark-charnock-27070125 |url-status=live }} Hollyoaks casting director Peter Hunt won the Tony Warren award, while Doctors stars Jan Pearson and Chris Walker won the Best On-Screen Partnership accolade after 14 years of appearing alongside each other.{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Joanna |title=British Soap Awards 2023 winners list in full: Who won in every category, and what time it's on TV tonight |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/british-soap-awards-2023-winners-list-full-who-won-what-time-tv-tonight-2389754 |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=i |date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606122730/https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/british-soap-awards-2023-winners-list-full-who-won-what-time-tv-tonight-2389754 |url-status=live }}