As usual, we’re keeping an eye on the Serial Drama categories of the National Television Awards (NTA) shortlist as the soap operas compete for the top honors.
Along with the recently ended Neighbours, Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale are all nominated in the Serial Drama category. Last year, Corrie won the prize for best serial drama performance, and its star Mollie Gallagher, who plays Nina Lucas, also won it.
This year, however, is unusual because Corrie is completely absent from the Serial Drama Performance category. Instead, EastEnders and Emmerdale each received two nominations.
For Emmerdale, the battle between good and evil pits Mark Charnock, who portrays the endearing Marlon Dingle, against Meena Jutla, the princess of evil, or rather Paige Sandhu, who played her so wonderfully.
This year, as Meena’s homicidal rampage across the hamlet culminated in an epic trial where she made sure she was the star of the show, both have been featured in compelling stories that have had fans on the edge of their seats.
While everything was going on, Mark Charnock was quietly shattering hearts with his brilliantly sympathetic portrayal as Marlon, who had had a horrific stroke, struggled to recover enough to walk at his wedding to Rhona.
Gillian Slater, who portrayed Jean Slater’s declining mental health in some genuinely memorable episodes, is the EastEnders representative in the nominees. The nominations are completed by Rose Ayling-Ellis, who recently declared her intention to leave Albert Square. Rose, the winner of Strictly Come Dancing, is beloved by the audience for her groundbreaking role as the first deaf actor to appear regularly on EastEnders.
Nevertheless, Paddy Bever, who portrays troubled adolescent Max Turner on Coronation Street, has been nominated in the Rising Star category, giving the show a chance to win yet another prize. It’s encouraging to see a soap actor being considered in a more popular category and a testament to the excellent job that soaps are now doing. He’s up alongside Joe Locke and Kit Connor from Heartstopper and Charithra Chandran from Bridgerton.
On Thursday, September 15, at 8 p.m., the NTAs will be hosted by Joel Dommett and broadcast live on ITV from Wembley’s OVO Arena. Voting is now open.