EastEnders star Steve McFadden teared up as he scooped his first ever National Television Award during Wednesday’s ceremony.
The actor, 66, who has played the iconic Phil Mitchell for an incredible 35 years, starred in a hard-hitting depression storyline earlier this years which saw his character attempting to take his own life.
He was nominated in the Serial Drama Performance category where he beat out stiff competition from his co-star Jacqueline Jossa and Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd amongst others.
Steve got visibly emotional as he hugged his co-star Jessie Wallace, who presented him with the award alongside Michelle Ryan.
In a speech, he said: ‘I’ve sat in the front row many, many times with my feet on the bottom stair and never won this prize. This is an excellent turn of events.’
The soapstar went on to say he was ‘touched and over the moon’ and thanked his ‘generous, brilliant, stunning, wonderful’ cast mates.’
EastEnders star Steve McFadden teared up as he scooped his first ever National Television Award during Wednesday’s ceremony
The actor, 66, who has played the iconic Phil Mitchell for an incredible 35 years, starred in a hard-hitting depression storyline earlier this years which saw his character attempting suicide
In the mental health storyline Phil struggled with depression and psychotic symptoms, before ultimately attempting to take his own life.
He started to isolate himself from his close family and friends as he came to terms with Sharon’s new relationship with his cousin Teddy, the collapse of his marriage to Kate, and Ben’s imprisonment in America.
As his depression deepened, Phil began to experience vivid hallucinations, leading him to the heartbreaking belief that his life was no longer worth living.
The storyline followed the impact Phil’s depression on his family and friends as they struggled to understand and support him.
EastEnders worked closely with The Samaritans, Rethink Mental Illness, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and Mind to ensure Phil’s story was portrayed as accurately and as sensitively as possible.
At the awards, the best of TV will be honoured by the British public, who have been voting for their favourite shows and talent.
This is a milestone year for the NTAs, which are celebrating their 30th anniversary.
The awards were established back in 1995 to give the public a voice when it came to recognising TV talent – as previously, awards had always been dished out by industry professionals.
He was nominated in the Serial Drama Performance category where he beat out stiff competition from his co-star Jacqueline Jossa and Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd
Steve got visibly emotional as he hugged his co-star Jessie Wallace, who presented him with the award alongside Michelle Ryan
In a speech, he said: ‘I’ve sat in the front row many, many times with my feet on the bottom stair and never won this prize. This is an excellent turn of events’
The storyline followed the impact Phil’s depression on his family and friends as they struggled to understand and support him (pictured on the soap)
Described as a ‘celebration of the nation’s most loved stars and shows’, people have had the opportunity to vote via post, telephone, and online.
Elsewhere, Alison Hammond proclaimed the ‘natural order has been restored’ after This Morning won the Daytime Award.
Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly were expected to win the TV Presenter award for the 24th year in a row but lost out to Gary Lineker.
Last year, on their 23rd consecutive win, they said that they ‘know one year we’re not going to win it.’
Competition this year was fierce and they were up against Claudia Winkleman, Alison Hammond, Stacey Solomon and Gary.
