Long-running British daytime drama “Emmerdale” will no longer be competing in the soap category at the upcoming BAFTA TV Awards after one of its former writers admitted to assaulting his partner.
ITV, which broadcasts and produces the show made the the decision to withdraw “Emmerdale” from this year’s award “in consideration of recent news involving a member of the scriptwriting team,” according to a statement sent to BAFTA voters on Tuesday.
The news came just hours after Martin Fustes admitted in court to the he assault of his girlfriend, causing actual bodily harm and an offence of intentional suffocation. He was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work, 15 days’ rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service domestic abuse programme.
“We were shocked and appalled to learn about the recent court case involving Emmerdale writer, Martin Fustes,” said an ITV spokesperson. “Mr Fustes is a freelance writer and he has been informed that he will no longer be writing for Emmerdale. Everyone at ITV and ‘Emmerdale’ abhors domestic abuse, which is why we have been highlighting the issue in a major storyline over the last 12 months. The Emmerdale production team were not aware of these charges against Mr Fustes until we were alerted over the weekend.”
The removal of “Emmerdale” from BAFTA’s soap category in the TV awards comes as the second round of voting nears, with the British Academy noting in its letter to members that anyone who had already voted for the drama would be able to recast their vote. BAFTA also said it would extend the round two voting deadline until 6 p.m. GMT (11 a.m. PT) on March 17.
BBC hospital drama “Casualty” has won the BAFTA soap award for the last two years. “Emmerdale” last won in 2020.
