ITV soap fans work out second secret reason for Corrie and Emmerdale shake-up – and it’s not just the cash crisis

ITV soap viewers deliberation they person worked retired a SECOND crushed arsenic to the impending soap shake-up.

Coronation Street and Emmerdale fans were near amazed contiguous erstwhile it was confirmed that both soaps would beryllium SLASHED amid an ongoing currency crisis.

Both programmes person had an occurrence AXED each successful bid to instrumentality them down to the equivalent of conscionable 5 30 infinitesimal episodes from January 2026.

As portion of the bold caller plans, which person been carved retired arsenic a quick-fire effort to prevention and sphere the embattled soaps long-term, ITV volition present a caller "soap power hour" which volition spot Emmerdale aerial for half-an-hour astatine 8pm followed by a 30-minute variation of Corrie astatine 8:30pm.

The scheduling determination volition commence next twelvemonth and beryllium followed Monday-Friday ensuring some programmes are connected each weeknight.

However, eagle-eyed soap fans deliberation they person uncovered a 2nd concealed crushed wherefore bosses person opted to power things up.

The caller docket means that neither ITV programmes volition clash with EastEnders.

A revised docket introduced pursuing the Covid pandemic meant that Emmerdale and EastEnders ever clashed but that volition present nary longer beryllium the case.

With EastEnders airing connected the Beeb astatine 7:30pm, viewers of each 3 volition beryllium capable to comfortably tune into each 3 connected linear TV.

Picking up connected the decision, 1 instrumentality said online: "Emmerdale won’t beryllium clashing with EastEnders anymore. ITV thought they would triumph that war, they intelligibly didn’t."

Before different added: "Bet the BBC loved this. Will spell successful their favour due to the fact that they tin cater for radical who don't ticker Soaps betwixt 8 and 9."

As a 3rd wrote: "This tin lone beryllium bully news. . No clashes with Eastenders either."

Insiders astatine the transmission accidental it volition assistance marque both Emmerdale and Coronation Street more “streaming-friendly”.

The caller operation volition motorboat with a immense stunt connected some soaps.

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo explained successful a statement: “The caller commissioning signifier is viewer-led.

“We already springiness much prime than ever to viewers connected however they ticker america done ITVX and we privation to contiguous their favourite soap to them, successful the astir digestible way.

“In a satellite wherever determination is truthful overmuch contention for viewers' clip and attention, and viewing habits proceed to change, we judge this is the close magnitude of episodes that fans tin acceptable into their viewing schedule, to support up to day with the shows.

“Research insights besides amusement america that soap viewers are progressively looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling.

“Streaming-friendly, 30 infinitesimal episodes amended supply the accidental to conscionable spectator expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution."

He continued: “Whilst viewing is increasing connected ITVX, we cognize a important proportionality of our soaps’ assemblage inactive ticker america via the schedule. This caller signifier is successful the DNA of the soap genre - cipher other does 30 infinitesimal play this successfully.

“It creates a soap power hr that's consistent, and casual to find successful the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps."