Sat 11 May 2024
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The annual British Soap Awards are set to take place this weekend after a chaotic week for ITV, which saw the ceremony host – Phillip Schofield – face a frenzy of press attention over a love affair with a young crew-member from This Morning.
Despite quitting This Morning amidst news of the affair, Philip Schofield had initially said he would still host the British Soap Awards.
However, the awards show announced a change in presenters after ITV instructed a barrister to carry out an external review of the facts surrounding Schofield’s relationship, according to a letter from chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall.
The British Soap Awards will still take place on Saturday 3 June at 7.45pm on ITV1.
The ceremony will also be available to stream on ITVX on Tuesday 6 June from 8pm.
Winners of ITV’s British Soap Awards are voted for by a public ballot, which closed on Friday 2 June.
ITV has announced that singer Jane McDonald will replace Phillip Schofield as the host of the British Soap Awards this weekend after the This Morning presenter stepped down.
The shift will mark a huge change for the show as Mr Schofield has been a regular fixture since 2006. From 2006 to 2008, he co-hosted the awards with Fern Britton. Thereafter he took on solo presenting duties.
Ms McDonald said: “I’m so excited to be this years host for The British Soap Awards!! I LOVE my soaps, so this is just a dream come true. I can’t wait to see all our wonderful soap nominees and celebrate all their hard work with them – roll on the awards!”
The British Soap Awards tweeted: “We’re pleased to announce our host for The British Soap Awards 2023… the fabulous Jane McDonald! As a super huge soap fan she’s in for a treat as we celebrate all our wonderful soaps in a star studded glittering event.”
Ms McDonald is a Wakefield-born singer who spent much of her early career performing in pubs and clubs and then landed work on cruise ships. She came to wider attention in 1998 when she appeared in the BBC show The Cruise.
That same year, Ms McDonald released a self-titled album that topped the UK album charts, remaining there for three weeks.
She has had four top-10 albums and has toured and performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium. She also took on the role of Grizabella in the musical Cats.
As well as her singing she has carved out a successful career as a presenter and co-hosted shows, including the ITV show Loose Women between 2004-14.
Her other work has included her Channel 5 travel show Cruising with Jane McDonald, which earned her a British Academy Television Award.
She has also presented her own shows Jane & Friends, Holidaying with Jane McDonald, and Jane McDonald: My Yorkshire on Channel 5.
She will take the stage at The Lowry in Salford Quays on Saturday to honour the best in soap.
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When the British Soap Awards 2023 is on ITV and full list of nominees – inews
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