Emmerdale and Coronation Street will be moving to a new time slot from March in a major schedule shake-up.
The ITV soaps will be pushed back by half an hour as the channel expands its news programme from 6.30pm until 7.30pm.
This means Emmerdale will air from 7.30pm each weeknight, while Coronation Street will switch to three hour-long episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo said: “As viewing habits rapidly change, live audiences to our national and international news programmes remain remarkably strong.
“Our evening news programme reached an impressive 35.6 million viewers in 2021.
(Image: ITV)
“We are very excited to be announcing this investment in what is an important public service strength of ITV – high-quality, impartial, trusted broadcast journalism – at a time when it could not be more important.
“The nation’s two most popular continuing dramas, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, are fundamental to the success of ITV, and we know that, as with all dramas, viewers increasingly watch them whenever, and however they choose.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“The new scheduling means that viewers can watch them live on TV in one go in a continuous soap fix, as well as on ITV Hub where they are regularly in the most watched shows every month.”
Emmerdale has aired weeknights at 7pm, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays, while Corrie usually has two episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, though it sometimes switches to one hour-long episode on some days depending on other programmes in the schedule.
(Image: ITV)
Emmerdale fans are currently dying to know whether or not evil Meena Jutla will be caught for her crimes, after she went on a killing spree in the village.
Meanwhile on Coronation Street, fans have been watching eagerly as the details surrounding little Joseph’s disappearance and return become clearer.
Emmerdale continues Monday night at 7pm, while Coronation Street will air at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
