'We're here to celebrate, while remembering the 22:' Soap Award stars remember the victims of the Manchester bombing (VIDEO)

soap awards, john middleton

British Soap Awards guests paid heartfelt tributes to the victims of the recent terrorist bombing in Manchester

Stars gathered in Manchester for the British Soap Awards responded to the May 22 Manchester Arena bomb which killed 22 people and injured hundreds more by saying the best thing they could do was continue in their honour.

Emmerdale's John Middleton told What's on TV: "I think the best thing we can do is just carry on. It's another Soap Awards, it's in Manchester, which is fantastic it is in Manchester, it means a lot, but to overstate that would be wrong because it would give what that hideous person did an importance it doesn't deserve."

EastEnders' Jacqueline Jossa said: "Nothing's changed in the way we've always loved Manchester. It's almost like you want to give everyone a big hug, the vibe and the atmosphere is amazing. I came up on the Friday and everyone just seemed so different, just so loving..."

Hollyoaks' Amanda Clapham said: "I just feel proud and that we're going ahead. I feel proud of Manchester and the way they responded..."

Corrie's Connor McIntyre said : "We're here to celebrate the best of British soaps in spite of people's attempts to try and disrupt us and that's our contribution to the wider culture, so here we are to celebrate that, while remembering the 22."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.