It’s the British Soap Awards tonight, and all eyes are on London’s Hackney Empire as the stars of EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale, etc fight it out for those coveted gongs.
However, the first award of the day was actually revealed this afternoon – and it went to Phillip Schofield.
Scofe, 56, who’s fronted the ceremony since 2006, took to social media to share the news that he’d been handed a trophy for ‘Longest Serving Host’.
![Instagram](https://cdn.entertainmentdaily.com/2018/06/02203550/Screen-shot-2018-06-02-at-20.38.09.png)
Alongside a rather shaky video (surely, he couldn’t have started on the wine THAT early!), the silver-haired This Morning legend wrote a caption expressing his gratitude for the gong, which was given to him before the bash aired tonight on ITV (the first time it’s ever been televised).
He wrote: “Awww my own award (not for the telly!). Thanks, team. The real @thebritishsoapawards tonight at 8 on @itv.”
And his legion of fans were quick to offer their congratulations on the accolade.
One follower predicted: “I can see an OBE coming your way soon.”
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Another cheered: “You are fantastic and loved very much.”
And a third added: “Good job, mate! Congrats! That deserves a scone and a cuppa tea!”
![ITV](https://cdn.entertainmentdaily.com/2018/02/19093856/fern-he.jpg)
Scofe first hosted the British Soap Awards in 2006, alongside his then This Morning co-presenter Fern Britton.
He’s fronted the ceremony every year since – performing the role on his own from 2008 onwards.
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That’s 13 years in total – so why the ’20 years’ etched onto his trophy? It’s because that’s how long the British Soap Awards have been running, and every gong says the same thing. Well, that’s confusing!
The first televised award of this year’s event was presented by Shirley Ballas, and EastEnders legend Gillian Taylforth caused a bit of a Twitter storm when she appeared to have no idea who the Strictly judge was.
![BBC](https://cdn.entertainmentdaily.com/2018/02/03071517/shirley.png)
After the ITV cameras homed in on her apparently asking fellow EastEnders star Steve McFadden “Who’s she?”, the social-media site erupted into giggles.
One observer laughed: “Haha. Gillian mouthing ‘Who’s she?’ when Shirley Ballas came out! #SoapAwards.”
And another tittered: “Best bit of #SoapAwards so far – Gillian Taylforth wondering ‘Who’s she?’ when Shirley Ballas walked on.”
Well, if there are still one or two people that don’t know who Shirley Ballas is, surely the same can’t be said of Phillip Schofield. Here’s to another 13 years!
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