Emmerdale wins big at National Television Awards 2026 with additional win for show legend

After winning in 2020, 2022 and 2024, Emmerdale has continued its streak of winning the National Television Award for Serial Drama every two years by picking up the award at tonight's ceremony.

The ITV soap beat out rival nominees including Casualty, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, as well as last year's winner, EastEnders.

Upon accepting the award, Sarah Sugden star Katie Hill said: "Thank you so, so much to everyone who voted and thank you to all our viewers who continue to support the show - we wouldn't have one if it weren't for you guys."

It was a big night for Emmerdale, as Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley also won in the serial drama performance.

Cain Dingle has an angry expression on his face, stood in the Butler's Farm kitchen in a scene from Emmerdale

This is far from the first time Hordley has been nominated for a National Television Award, but it is the first time he has won, beating out fellow contenders including EastEnders star Aaron Thiara for his role as Ravi Gulati and Gareth Pierce for his role as Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street.

Also nominated were Paul Bradley for playing Nigel Bates in EastEnders and Sue Devaney for playing Debbie Webster in Coronation Street.

As he accepted his award, Hordley said he was grateful to get to play his recent prostate cancer storyline, and how it had helped to highlight issues surrounding the illness.

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Hordley has been playing Cain Dingle on Emmerdale since 2000, although he took a brief break from the soap between 2006 and 2009.

Next week on the soap, Patsy Kensit's Sadie is set to reunite with Cain for the first time in 20 years, and drop a huge bombshell on him - although what this is, we are yet to find out.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Original source Emmerdale wins big at National Television Awards 2026 with additional win for show legend

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