Michelle Collins exuded glamour as she joined EastEnders co-stars on the red carpet at the National Television Awards on Wednesday, wearing a black sequinned gown with a plunging cowl neckline and a figure‑hugging silhouette. The 63‑year‑old completed the look with black open‑toe platform heels and a small black quilted handbag as photographers captured the group arriving together.

Joining Collins were Jessie Wallace (53), who wore a teal satin dress with a ruffled bust and dramatic puffed skirt; Gillian Taylforth (70), in a lilac floor‑length gown with an asymmetric neckline; Diane Parish (55), in a scarlet fishtail dress with a sweetheart neckline; and Harriet Thorpe (68), who paired a black blazer with silver sequin‑embellished flare trousers. The gathering underscored the continued prominence of the BBC soap on the awards night.

Also on the red carpet, Michelle Ryan (41) — who returned to EastEnders this year as Zoe Slater after leaving the show in 2005 — said she was pleased to be back and praised the writers for treating the character with care. "I think the writers are taking care of it, they're really passionate about her and she's a complexed, damaged woman, so as an actor that's the best kind of role to play," Ryan told reporters. She noted the role provides fresh challenges and said simply: "So every turn there's a challenge, I don't really hope for much, because I think that they've got it in hand really." Ryan made a surprise return to Walford on June 16, 2025 after a two‑decade absence.

Later in the evening, EastEnders stalwart Steve McFadden (66) won the Serial Drama Performance category for his portrayal of Phil Mitchell, a character he has played since 1990. The award, decided by a public vote, saw McFadden top a field that included Emmerdale's Eden Taylor‑Draper, Coronation Street's Jack P. Shepherd and Sue Devaney, and his EastEnders co‑star Jacqueline Jossa.

Overcome with emotion on stage, McFadden embraced Jessie Wallace, who presented the prize alongside Collins, and described the win as humbling. "I'm touched and over the moon," he said, adding thanks to viewers who voted and to his castmates and production team. He praised his colleagues as "generous, brilliant, stunning, wonderful" and quipped that the show had been responsible for "giving Phil Mitchell 35 years of stupidity."

The evening combined celebratory moments for long‑running dramas with attention to the performers who continue to shape their storylines on and off screen. EastEnders remains a central presence at televised awards nights, with the cast's red‑carpet appearances and acceptance speeches highlighting both individual careers and the soap's enduring place in British television.

Awards nights such as the National Television Awards, which rely heavily on public voting for many categories, offer a gauge of popular support as much as industry recognition. For EastEnders, the show's visibility was reinforced both by its veteran cast members' attendance and by the return of former characters, a development that the programme's actors publicly acknowledged when speaking about their roles and the direction of ongoing storylines.