Coronation Street was pulled from our screens this week in yet another scheduling shake-up, after the channel announced a reduction in the number of weekly soap episodes

Coronation Street fans have been left in the lurch this week as the soap was pulled from the schedule, following ITV’s recent decision to cut back on weekly soap episodes. On January 31st, Corrie enthusiasts were shocked when their regular fix of the cobbles was replaced by Six Nations Live. Unfortunately, it’s set to happen again. Instead of Coronation Street on Friday night (7 February), footie fans can catch Manchester United vs Leicester City in the FA Cup. The match will kick off at 7:30pm after Emmerdale. Coronation Street usually airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for an hour from 8:00pm.

However, this week, Weatherfield followers have seen the soap air on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday instead. On Tuesday, ITV confirmed that beloved soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale will follow a new scheduling pattern due to ongoing budget cuts. Emmerdale currently airs six episodes weekly, Monday to Friday with a double bill on Thursdays. Similarly, Coronation Street also airs three episodes per week, with one hour episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, reports the Mirror.

Now, only five 30-minute episodes of each show will be broadcast – a real terms cut to soap airtime of 17%. Bosses will now introduce a soaps power hour from Monday to Friday with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes airing at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes airing at 8:30pm.

However, each episode will continue to be available at 7am on ITVX before airing that same evening.

The unveiling of the 2026 schedule promises to be a spectacular event, with Coronation Street and Emmerdale preparing for a groundbreaking stunt during a week of special episodes – something never before seen on the soaps. Research has shown that 30-minute episodes in 2024 attracted larger audiences, offering bite-sized portions of drama that better suit changing viewing habits.

Together, Coronation Street and Emmerdale captivate over 8 million viewers weekly across the UK. This week, Corrie was alight with drama, starting with a mysterious fire at the Platts’ house last night, threatening much more than just the property.

Over in Emmerdale, viewers can expect a heart-stopping storyline, filmed over several night shoots, involving a dangerous night where two limousines encounter peril, one teetering on the brink of an icy lake.

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo, remarked: “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.”

“Soaps are famed for their swift storytelling. The 30-minute episodes, perfect for streaming, offer an improved opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.”

“It forms a consistent soap power hour that’s easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, instead of the current six.”