Soap fans, it’s that time of the year again. The World Cup is stepping onto ITV’s pitch, kicking Coronation Street and Emmerdale on to the sidelines.
The serial dramas are set to move away from their half an hour “power hour” format, which was introduced in January, on some of the days.
At the time, it was deemed that by reducing the weekly output from six to five episodes, airing for 30 minutes each from 8pm on weekdays, it would provide more consistency for viewers.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo said: “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.”
However, since then, the soaps have been booted around left, right and centre, and the following weeks are no exception.
As England get set to face off against Spain for a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, episodes for both Corrie and Emmerdale on Friday 5 June will be taken off air.
Live coverage of the World Cup qualifier will be aired instead on ITV1 instead.
Fear not, as our next trip to soapland will be on Sunday 7 June between 8 and 9pm. The following Tuesday 9 June will see them off air again as a result of the Women’s European Qualifier between England and Ukraine.
On Wednesday 10 June, Emmerdale will air at the earlier time of 7pm, followed by Corrie at 7.30pm.
There will be no soaps at all as a result of the opening ceremony on Thursday 11 June.
The biggest change comes on Friday 12 June, as the previous hour-long format returns. Emmerdale will air from 8pm, with Corrie following at 9pm.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm and Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1. Both can be streamed from 7am that day on ITVX.
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
