BBC Studios for BBC
Winner Casualty stood out in its category, offering “everything you could want from a soap”.
For almost 40 years Casualty has endeavoured to reflect the challenges faced by NHS staff while offering entertainment, emotion and authenticity.
In the submitted episode, a Christmas special, the programme tackled the issue of blood donation, and, in particular, blood shortages around Christmas time.
The episode interspersed its scripted narrative, in which a well-loved character’s life hung in the balance due to a car crash, with real-life testimonies related to blood donation. One judge praised the programme’s “clever blending of fact and fiction which produced a genuinely moving episode”, while another added that “mixing real-life stories made this even more compelling rather than taking away from the story”.
The entry was also praised for its successful balance of entertainment along with communicating a vital message and call to action.
“It managed to explore the subject of blood donations, the contaminated blood scandal and childhood cancer, all while having a mix of tension, emotion, warmth, humour and relatable characters,” a judge said.
“The drama is tense and fast-paced, but the overall message comes across loud and clear, no doubt motivating many people to take action and give blood.”
SHORTLISTED
Coronation Street
ITV Studios for ITV
This year saw Coronation Street expand its reach amongst younger viewers, and its top-rated episode for the year addressed the issue of knife crime. The episode employed parallel storylines to portray to the fatal stabbing Mason, showing what could have been if no knife had been involved.
EastEnders
BBC Studios for BBC
EastEnders marked 40 years on air this year. Its celebrations included the first live episode since 2015, which included audience interaction, an explosion in the Queen Vic which claimed two lives and flashback episode focused on the Mitchell family, which explored Phil’s mental health and included the return of his brother Grant.
Emmerdale
ITV Studios for ITV
This year Emmerdale set out do something different for continuing drama storytelling – a genuinely standalone episode that doubles as a short film, suitable for watching without prior knowledge of the show. The episode solely followed teenager April and her time living on the streets.
Hollyoaks
Lime Pictures for Channel 4
Building on its 2024 sibling sexual abuse storyline, this year Hollyoaks explored the issue of re-exploitation, following abuse victim Frankie as she is groomed alongside Dillon and Vicky, who are drawn into drugs and crime. The show also produced a companion documentary featuring real-life survivors.
Waterloo Road
Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall to Wall North for BBC
This year Waterloo Road continued to engage ‘underserved audiences’ for the BBC, with strong viewing figures in its linear slot and on iPlayer. The show endeavours to offer entertaining comedy drama alongside tacking social justice issues, as reflected in its recent storyline on coercive control.
AWARD SPONSORED BY MPTS
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