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Huge Coronation Street and Emmerdale Changes 

ITV is reducing Coronation Street and Emmerdale’s weekly output in 2026, it has been confirmed. 

Following audience research, bosses have concluded that 30 minute episodes attracted higher audience figures throughout 2024, and as a result, a new broadcast pattern will be adopted from January. 

This means that Emmerdale will air Monday to Friday from 20:00, with Coronation Street following on the same days at 20:30 in what has been dubbed as a ‘soap power hour.’ 

Consequently, both soaps are cutting one episode per week.

 The changes will be marked with ambitious, never seen before stunts in a week of special episodes. 

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo 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. 

“This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six. We are conscious this will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team. We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people. 

“These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term.”

4 February 2025                                            

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