Jane McDonald has spoken out as it was announced she is replacing Phillip Schofield as host at the British Soap Awards.
Jane, 60, who is a self-proclaimed super soap fan, was officially confirmed as the ceremony's new presenter this morning.
Following the announcement, Jane took to her Instagram page to speak out on the news and share her excitement.
She wrote: "I'm so excited to be this years host for The British Soap Awards!!
"Everyone knows how much I LOVE my soaps, this year I’ve been honoured to be mentioned in Corrie, EastEnders and Emmerdale so this is just a dream come true.
"I can’t wait to see all our wonderful soap nominees and celebrate all their hard work with them - roll on the awards, I can’t wait!"
The awards are taking place at The Lowry in Salford and voting closes for fans to vote for their favourites at 5pm tomorrow.
The British Soap Awards 2023 will air Tuesday at 8pm on ITV and ITVX.
Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks will all be battling out for awards in a number of categories, including Best British Soap.
Soap stars are up for a number of gongs including Best Villain, Best Leading Performer and Best Young Performer.
Jane is replacing former This Morning host Phillip Schofield after he admitting having an affair with an younger ITV employee and lying about it, sparking him to quit ITV completely just days after he stepped away from This Morning.
Former This Morning host Phillip had presented the awards since 2006.
Phillip said in a statement, which can be read in full here: "I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning. Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship. That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over."
He also said: "I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me. I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it."
The former TV presenter was dropped by his agency, YMU, and ITV later spoke out to share their "disappointment" over Phillip's "deceit".
An ITV spokesperson told the Mirror: "We are deeply disappointed by the admissions of deceit made tonight by Phillip Schofield.
"The relationships we have with those we work with are based on trust. Philip made assurances to us which he now acknowledges were untrue and we feel badly let down.
"We accept his resignation from ITV and therefore can confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as had previously been stated."
The broadcaster later shared another statement to insist they had undertaken an investigation into allegations of an affair between Phillip and a young employee in 2020 – but they were "lied" to.
The statement read: "Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
"Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.
"In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
"Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship."
ITV have now called in a barrister to do an external investigation into Phillip's statement and departure.
