Emmerdale spoilers follow below.
It was a glorious evening for Emmerdale on Tuesday (23 June), as the ITV series took home the Best Soap award at The Television and Radio Industries Club Awards (TRIC). It was also a good night for Jeff Hordley, who won Best Soap Actor for his portrayal of Cain Dingle.
It was Nicola Wheeler, however, who had the honour of collecting the main award on behalf of the soap. And the actor, who portrays Nicola King, certainly made an impression with an amusing speech.
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
"Thank you so much to the TRIC Awards," she began (via Metro), before admitting: "I'm really drunk – I'm really sorry. I've been on this show for 26 years and they've never asked me to [give] a speech – and the reason is because I'm the alcoholic on the show.
"‘I'm kidding! But I am the party girl. I've had a wonderful time. When I first joined Emmerdale, it was brilliant. I'd done loads of little bits of drama and I joined Emmerdale and I went, 'Oh, it's a tight schedule'."
What to Read Next
"And then I went, 'Oh, it's an even f**king tighter budget'. But you know what, we appreciate what you do and we respect what you do and I hope your programmes carry on for a long, long time. Thank you," she concluded.
In winning the top award at the TRICs, Emmerdale beat BBC soaps Casualty and EastEnders as well as fellow ITV series Coronation Street. Hordley, meanwhile, prevailed over EastEnders' Paul Bradley as well as Corrie stars Gareth Pierce and Sue Devaney.
Related: Emmerdale's Lewis finally discovers hidden Kev secret as kidnap story is resolved
On the soap itself, it's been confirmed that a brand-new mystery will rock the Dales later this year, as a flashforward scene teases that a grisly crime has taken place. Furthermore, the identity of the victim will be disclosed!
While we'll have to wait to see who was involved, the ensuing months will gradually explain the mystery, culminating in a big reveal further down the line. To bide your time, you can read our list of potential victims.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating the global phenomenon of BTS, is here! Buy this ultimate fan guide in newsagents or online.
