ITV is to cut down its soap schedule by an hour a week, with Coronation Street and Emmerdale to be changed to half-hour instalments, the broadcaster has announced.
Coronation Street currently airs for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale is four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.
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.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo said the change is “viewer-led” and will make the soaps more…