ITV removed both coronation street and emerdale from tonight’s schedule, just weeks after the station’s new “Soap Power Hour” launched.
Last month, the drama series cut its weekly production time by 30 minutes, allowing it to air on weekdays from 8 p.m. This followed the highly-anticipated crossover episode “Corriedale,” in which two fictional worlds merged for one night only.
This is not the first time Corrie and Emmerdale have been dropped to make way for other shows, with the changes coming just a week into the new broadcast pattern.
Tonight (February 3), there will be coverage of the EFL Cup instead.
The match between Arsenal and Chelsea kicks off at 8pm, with Mark Pugach providing analysis of the semi-final second leg draw at the Emirates Stadium at 7.30pm.
Luckily, fans don’t have to worry too much. Corrie and Emmerdale will return in their regular slot on Wednesday. More disruption is expected when ITV broadcasts France v Ireland on Six Nations Live on Thursday.
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Speaking after ITV1’s new schedule was announced, Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment, said: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-driven. We are already giving our viewers more choice than ever about how they watch us through ITVX and we want to offer them their favorite soaps in the most understandable way.”
“In a world where competition for viewers’ time and attention is fierce and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right number of episodes for fans to fit into their viewing schedules to stay up to date with the show.”
Meanwhile, Emmerdale actor Chris Bisson spoke about the schedule change during a red carpet appearance for the launch of Corriedale. leeds live: “All the fans have been waiting for these two shows to collide and now we can start a new schedule on ITV. That ‘Soap Power Hour’. ”
He added: “No more moaning about Collie being moved because of football and how no one knows when the football game starts. We all know where we are – from 8pm to 9pm every day of the week.”
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 8pm on ITV1. Coronation Street follows at 8.30pm. Stream on ITVX.
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