Coronation Street and Emmerdale are both off air tonight – just one week into new schedule
Inside Soap’s Corriedale reaction as Graham returns from the dead
Soap fans will be left twiddling their thumbs tonight with both Coronation Street and Emmerdale off air. Just one week into the brand new soap “power hour” schedule, neither of ITV’s soaps will be airing tonight (Tuesday, January 13).
The Carabao Cup semi final between Newcastle United and Manchester City will air on ITV1 instead from 7.30pm to 10.25pm.
But fear not, both Corrie and Emmerdale will return as normal on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week.
A post on the Coronation Street Instagram page reads: “Here’s when you can find us this week on ITV1! Remember, all episodes are available from 7am on ITVX and YouTube on the days they are on TV.”
Several fans aired their thoughts in the comment section, with many complaining about the schedule shake-up that now sees both soaps air five 30-minute episodes per week in their new timeslots.
“I wanted 1 hour episodes, 3 times a week instead, these 30 minutes on separate days is not enough,” one user wrote, while another echoed the same sentiments, writing: “Miss the 1 hour episodes.”
A third said: “No more 1 hour. I shall save them and re watch.”
The change began on 6 January, with Emmerdale moving to an 8pm slot permanently, followed by Corrie at 8.30pm.
Speaking after the scheduling shake-up was announced, Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, 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.”