In a move that has left the performing arts union Equity and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain expressing concern, ITV has announced that the schedules for Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be cut back from 2026. Currently, Coronation Street airs for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale is four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment. However, from January 2026, there will be a “soaps power hour” on weekdays with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm. Episodes will continue to be released at 7am on ITVX before airing on ITV later that evening.
The move is part of ITV’s efforts to make its soaps more “streaming-friendly” in a world where there is increasing competition for viewers’ time and attention. According to ITV boss Kevin Lygo, the change is “viewer-led” and will provide the opportunity for viewers to keep up to date with the shows at a pace that suits them. He also stated that research insights show that soap viewers are increasingly looking for pacey storytelling, which can be better achieved with 30-minute episodes.
Lygo acknowledged that the content being cut back from six hours a week to five will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team. However, he reassured that ITV will support its colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes and do what it can to mitigate the impact on its people. He also stated that the changes are motivated by doing what ITV believes is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term, and create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very competitive market.
The announcement has been met with concerns from Equity TV official Natalie Barker, who stated that the last 18 months have been a difficult time for UK continuing drama with the cancellation of BBC soap Doctors and cuts to Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. She expressed her concerns that ITV’s announcement of cuts to episode numbers on Coronation Street and Emmerdale is further cause for concern. Barker also stated that Equity is in contact with the casts and engaging with ITV to ensure that any potential negative impacts of these changes are minimal.
She added that the union will work collectively to defend continuing drama and campaign for commitments from the broadcasters to secure the long-term future of these programmes, which are so crucial to the health of UK production. The sentiments were echoed by Writers’ Guild of Great Britain chairwoman Emma Reeves, who stated that the move is a real cause for concern and will mean fewer opportunities for work for our members and a further blow to continuing drama.
Since first airing on December 9 1960, Coronation Street has gone through a number of scheduling changes. It started with two episodes a week, which then increased over the years to six instalments by September 2017, before it was moved to three hour-long episodes a week in March 2022. When Emmerdale began in 1972 it was screened on two days a week, which then increased over the years to six episodes by 2004, with the sixth later changed to one hour-long episode per week.
Both soaps have stunt storylines lined up for February, with Coronation Street’s kicking off on Monday when a mysterious fire broke out at the Platts’ homes. Emmerdale also has a dramatic storyline in the works, filmed over a series of night shoots, which centres on two limousines getting into danger, with one left teetering over a treacherous frozen lake. ITV has said both soaps will feature an ambitious, never-before-seen stunt as part of a week of special episodes in the 2026 schedule.
The reduction in episode numbers has been met with concerns from Equity and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, who have expressed their fears about the impact on their members and the long-term future of continuing drama in the UK. However, ITV has reassured that it will do what it can to mitigate the impact on its people and create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very competitive market.
As the UK continues to navigate the challenges of the streaming age, it remains to be seen how this move will affect the popularity and longevity of Coronation Street and Emmerdale. However, one thing is certain: this change will have a significant impact on the people who work on these programmes and will likely shape the future of continuing drama in the UK.