Emmerdale’s James Hooton calls it an “honour” to film with Corrie’s Andy Whyment as soaps collide in historic ITV special

A Crossover 40 Years in the Making

ITV is pulling off a soap dream come true: Coronation Street and Emmerdale are finally crossing over. The much-anticipated special, dubbed “Corriedale,” is set to air in early 2026 and will bring characters from Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales together in one drama-packed hour.

As part of ITV’s new Soap Power Hour launch, Emmerdale will air at 8pm, followed by Corrie at 8:30pm on weekdays. But this one-off crossover event is more than just scheduling—it’s a celebration of legacy, laughter, and long-awaited character combinations.

Sam and Kirk: The Comedy Duo We Didn’t Know We Needed

Of the four crossover scenes shot, only one will make it into the final broadcast—and fans may already have a favorite.

James Hooton (Sam Dingle, Emmerdale) and Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland, Corrie) filmed a lighthearted scene that fans are calling “comedy gold.” On This Morning, James teased the pairing by calling it a “meeting of two brain cells,” joking about the lovable but dim-witted personas both characters share.

Later, Hooton posted a behind-the-scenes snap with Whyment and Kirk’s dog, Peanut, writing:
“It was an honour to film this scene. I hope it makes the episode.”

Andy responded warmly:
“Really enjoyed working with you mate… if not, at least we were one of the four scenes shot.”

Fans Rally to Vote for the Scene

Social media erupted with support for the Sam-Kirk pairing. ITV has confirmed that viewers will vote on which of the four crossover duos makes it into the final cut of “Corriedale”—and this scene may be leading the charge.

💬 “This is the best duo!”
💬 “You two will definitely get my vote. Wonderful characters!”
💬 “Oh Sam and Kirk will definitely get my vote, what a scene that will be!”

Others urged ITV to include all four scenes:
“They should all be put in. Can’t wait to see them!”

A Scene Worth Fighting For?

As excitement builds for “Corriedale,” fans are more invested than ever in which pairing makes the final edit. With Sam and Kirk’s natural chemistry and years of loyal followings, their scene may just be the one that unites both fanbases in laughter.