Emmerdale has triumphed at the National Television Awards 2022, winning the serial drama and serial drama performance awards, with none other than King Charles III paying tribute.

The soap won the awards in its 50th anniversary year, with the Olivia Bromley, who plays Dawn Taylor, saying: ‘Thank you so much to everybody who has voted for us.

‘Honestly it means the world to us, especially this year, our 50th year of Emmerdale. 50 years of Dales drama and we are so, so proud to take this back up to Yorkshire!

‘This is to everybody back home, up north, who worked so hard, our amazing crew, our amazing cast, production, costume, everybody in our team, thank you so much and here is to the next 50!’

Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Neighbours battled it out for the coveted award.

Emmerdale had a clean sweep at the glitzy event, with star Mark Charnock picking up the award for serial drama performance.

He was up for serial drama performance were EastEnders’ Gillian Wright, Emmerdale’s Paige Sandhu, and EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, with Mark picking up the gong.

The incredible wins came after King Charles made a surprise appearance via video message, paying tribute to the soap on its 50th birthday.

He said: ‘It is a testament to all the hard work of its production team that it has since become such an important British institution and a major British export with hundreds of thousands of fans from Scandinavia to New Zealand, all keen to follow the fortunes of what is left of the Sugdens and their new neighbours.

‘What makes Emmerdale so special is that it has kept true to the vision of its original writer, Kevin Laffan, who wanted to demonstrate that farming is not just a job – it’s a whole way of life.

Emmerdale had a clean sweep, with Mark Charnock also winning (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

‘On a daily basis, Emmerdale continues to depict what life is really like for those who work the land and protect our precious countryside. It also stresses brilliantly something that concerns me greatly: the long-term sustainability of the way we produce our food.

‘I’m also heartened by the production team’s efforts off screen. Their ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 has already made Emmerdale one of the first British programmes to be awarded Albert certification, recognising its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its production process and to create content that stresses the importance of establishing a sustainable future.

‘So it is only right that the National Television Awards acknowledge the enormous contribution Emmerdale has made and I hope those watching will join me in sending a warmest congratulations on its 50th anniversary. And wishing it an equally successful future.’

Elsewhere at the awards, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here picked up the Bruce Forsyth Award, while Trigger Point won new drama.

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We have a winner!