A Historic Soap First

Filming has officially begun on Corriedale — the one-off crossover that will unite Coronation Street and Emmerdale in a groundbreaking hour of drama. Airing in early 2026, the special episode will bring Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales together for the first time in soap history.

ITV has confirmed the special will be broadcast across ITV, STV, ITVX and YouTube as part of a new “soap power hour” schedule. Starting in January, Emmerdale will air at 8pm, immediately followed by Corrie at 8:30pm, reflecting research that showed 30-minute episodes drew higher audiences throughout 2024.

What to Expect

Details of the storyline remain under wraps, but ITV bosses have promised an ambitious stunt with “everlasting consequences.” Executive Producer Iain MacLeod teased:

“It’s beyond exciting that filming is under way on Corriedale. There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites… And that’s before we’ve even got to all the brilliant transpennine interactions between characters from the different shows! As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year. It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.”

John Sugden’s Deadly Link

Sharp-eyed viewers already spotted the first clue to the crossover in Coronation Street, where a Wanted poster for Emmerdale villain John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) appeared in Weatherfield police station.

John has a deadly history in the Dales — killing Nate Robinson, throwing Aaron Dingle from a cliff, drugging Chas Dingle, and nearly killing Mack Boyd. His escape from justice, aided by Caleb Miligan after blackmail and betrayal, left him on the run in Rotterdam. Now, it looks like Weatherfield residents may be the next in his line of fire.

Cast and Characters Tease Drama

Actors from both soaps, including Ryan Hawley, Lisa Riley, and Eden Taylor-Draper, have hinted at high-stakes storylines. Meanwhile, Coronation Street star Vicky Myers (DS Lisa Swain) has been spotted filming in Leeds, suggesting police action will play a major role.

ITV Celebrates Streaming Success

The crossover comes at a time when both soaps are enjoying record streaming figures. Together, Coronation Street and Emmerdale reached 350 million streams on ITVX in 2025, a 31% year-on-year increase. In August alone, they notched nearly 40 million streams, proving the shows remain giants in UK television.

A Collision Course for Chaos

With Weatherfield and the Dales colliding, a murderous fugitive on the loose, and ITV promising a “mind-blowing” stunt, Corriedale is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about events in soap history.