Viewers of Coronation Street and Emmerdale are facing yet more disruption to their usual viewing schedules, as both soaps are pulled from ITV this evening to make way for a World Cup qualifier football match between England and Latvia. Coverage begins at 7pm ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off.
To compensate for the missing episodes, ITV will air an extended episode of Emmerdale at 7pm tomorrow, followed by an hour-long Coronation Street at 8pm. Both episodes will also be available to stream on ITVX from 7am on the same day.
This week promises dramatic storylines on both soaps. In Coronation Street, Rob Donovan takes sister Carla Connor and her girlfriend Lisa Swain hostage, with one major character facing a bullet. Meanwhile, Todd Grimshaw sets his sights on a local scaffolder, and Jenny Connor receives an unexpected windfall.
In Emmerdale, Jai Sharma is determined to uncover information about Anthony Fox’s whereabouts, causing alarm among some villagers. Romance may blossom for Sarah Sugden and newcomer Kammy, while Ella Forster remains focused on proving her innocence.
Looking ahead, both soaps will face permanent schedule changes next year as ITV reduces episode output. Each soap will air half-hour episodes every weeknight, with Emmerdale at 8pm and Coronation Street at 8.30pm, creating what bosses call a 'soap power hour'. The changes, based on audience research, will be marked by a major stunt at the start of 2026.
