Exclusive: Coronation Street star wins Best Exit at Inside Soap Awards 2026 after shock death scene

Coronation Street star Daniel Brocklebank has triumphed at the Inside Soap Awards 2026 following his character Billy Mayhew's tragic final storyline.

The actor came out on top in the viewer voting for the Best Exit category, as fans rewarded Corriedale's shocking death twist.

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At the start of the year, Billy lost his life in the epic hour-long crossover episode between Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Billy was involved in the terrifying multi-vehicle crash which brought fan favourites from both soaps together for the first time.

Although villain Theo Silverton had a chance to rescue Billy at the scene, he instead trapped the popular vicar and left him to die. Theo's horrifying act came as he wanted to silence Billy, who'd figured out that he was abusing Todd Grimshaw.

As Daniel is currently busy in rehearsals for The Hunger Games: On Stage, he collected his trophy early at the Inside Soap office in London this week.

Responding to his win, he quipped: "Oh my goodness – what a lovely way to end my tenure in Corrie! Who knew that being blown up in a mini-bus would result in such a lovely little award?"

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Asked how he'd like Billy to be remembered by fans, Daniel replied: "He was kind, he was fair – flawed but I think he always tried to do what was right. I'd like him to be remembered as somebody who was kind. For his 11 years on the street, he was a moral compass.

"My message to all of you is just to say thank you very much. The love and support that you guys gave to Billy over my time on Coronation Street will be something that I treasure forever."

EastEnders' Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates), Emmerdale's Joe Absolom (Ray Walters), Hollyoaks' Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson) and Home and Away's Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts) were the other shortlisted nominees in the category.

Daniel's victory is the second to be officially announced by Inside Soap. Earlier this week, Emmerdale's Claire King proudly received her Inside Soap Awards Hall of Fame trophy live on ITV's This Morning – recognising her long run as Home Farm queen Kim Tate.

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The rest of the winners will be announced on Monday (21 September) at a star-studded ceremony in Manchester.

While voting has closed for most of the awards, there's still time to pick your winner for Best Soap as that category doesn't close until 12pm on the day of the ceremony.

See the full shortlist below:

Best Actress

Vicky Myers (Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street)

Diane Parish (Denise Fox, EastEnders)

Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle, Emmerdale)

Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Emily Weir (Mackenzie Booth, Home and Away)

Best Actor

Gareth Pierce (Todd Grimshaw, Coronation Street)

Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)

Danny Mac (Dodger Savage, Hollyoaks)

Ethan Browne (Tane Parata, Home and Away)

Best Comic Performance

Amy Robbins (Christina Boyd, Coronation Street)

Pierre Counihan-Moullier (Oscar Branning, EastEnders)

Chris Coghill (Kev Barton, Emmerdale)

Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)

Shane Withington (John Palmer, Home and Away)

Best Villain

James Cartwright (Theo Silverton, Coronation Street)

Ronni Ancona (Bea Pollard, EastEnders)

Joe Absolom (Ray Walters, Emmerdale)

Anna Passey (Sienna Blake, Hollyoaks)

Sara Wiseman (Kerrie Matheson, Home and Away)

Best Young Performer

Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman, Coronation Street)

Max Murray (Joel Marshall, EastEnders)

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale)

Oscar Curtis (Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks)

Nathan Murray (Cohen Luthor, Home and Away)

Best Newcomer

Olivia Frances-Brown (Jodie Ramsey, Coronation Street)

Pierre Counihan-Moullier (Oscar Branning, EastEnders)

Chris Coghill (Kev Barton, Emmerdale)

Tisha Merry (Gemma Johnson, Hollyoaks)

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (David Langham, Home and Away)

Best Exit

Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew, Coronation Street) - WINNER

Paul Bradley (Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Joe Absolom (Ray Walters, Emmerdale)

Alex Fletcher (Diane Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts, Home and Away)

Best Family

The Driscolls (Coronation Street)

The Brannings (EastEnders)

The Dingles (Emmerdale)

The Hutchinsons (Hollyoaks)

The Fowlers (Home and Away)

Best Partnership

Alison King & Vicky Myers (Carla & Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street)

Steve McFadden & Paul Bradley (Phil Mitchell & Nigel Bates, EastEnders)

Jeff Hordley & Natalie J Robb (Cain & Moira Dingle, Emmerdale)

Kieron Richardson & Jonny Labey (Ste Hay & Rex Gallagher, Hollyoaks)

Ada Nicodemou & James Stewart (Leah Patterson & Justin Morgan, Home and Away)

Best Storyline

Todd’s abuse at the hands of Theo (Coronation Street)

Nigel’s dementia & final goodbye (EastEnders)

Bear’s modern slavery nightmare (Emmerdale)

Diane’s ovarian cancer (Hollyoaks)

Irene’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis (Home and Away)

Best Showstopper

Corriedale (Coronation Street & Emmerdale)

Nigel’s 90s special (EastEnders)

Return to Brookside Close (Hollyoaks)

The train crash (Home and Away)

Best Drama Star

William Beck (Dylan Keogh, Casualty)

Elinor Lawless (Stevie Nash, Casualty)

Lindsey Coulson (Stella Drake, Waterloo Road)

Adam Thomas (Donte Charles, Waterloo Road)

Best Soap

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

Home and Away

Bosses are also planning to hand out an Outstanding Achievement prize and name the Soap Superstar of 2026, awarded by fans to an actor who has performed above and beyond the call of duty this year.

Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.

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