ITV’s new soap schedule for Coronation Street and Emmerdale has been disrupted already, just a week into the change.
Last Monday, the broadcaster launched a new soap power hour. It sees Emmerdale air for half an hour at 8pm, and then Corrie for 30 minutes at 8:30pm from Monday-Friday.
Following audience research, bosses concluded that 30 minute episodes attracted higher audience figures throughout 2024.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo previously said: ‘The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way.
‘In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.
‘Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30 minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.
‘Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully.’
To kickstart the new scheduling pattern, ITV aired Corriedale, a massive crossover episode that saw the worlds of Coronation Street and Emmerdale collide.
Just over a week into the change, things have been thrown up in the air. If you’re planning on sitting down for an hour tonight to catch up on the drama happening in the Dales and Weatherfield, you’re going to be disappointed, as neither of the soaps are airing.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why aren’t Coronation Street and Emmerdale on tonight?
Unfortunately, Corrie and Emmerdale are off air this evening due to football being placed in the schedules instead.
Don't miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
The coverage of the Newcastle United v Manchester City game begins at 7:30pm and is expected to end around 10:25pm, meaning there won’t be time for the soap power hour.
Gutted!
When will both ITV soaps be on air again?
You don’t have too long to wait for the soaps to hit our screens again, as Corrie and Emmerdale’s new schedule of airing from 8-9pm will continue from tomorrow, and then for the rest of the week.
You can also watch these episodes on ITVX and YouTube.
What happened during Corriedale?
The dramatic crossover event kicked off when Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) crashed into a car that was being driven by the Swains from Coronation Street.
Other characters from both soaps caught up in the crash included Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank), Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), Cain and Moira Dingle (Jeff Hordley and Natalie J Robb), and Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard).
Billy sadly died in the ordeal, after becoming trapped in the minibus before it exploded.
The episode also confirmed that John had been murdered, with fans later discovering sister Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) killed him after injecting a drug into his system.
A storyline for Cain began, as a doctor revealed he needed tests to see if a newly discovered mass is cancerous.
We also saw the return of Emmerdale’s Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), who has supposedly been dead since 2020.
Becky Swain (Amy Cudden) was arrested by Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) and we also met a woman called Jodie (Olivia Frances Brown), who we now know is Shona Platt’s (Julia Goulding) sister.
