Soapland was rocked with a real-life bombshell this week, as ITV announced that Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be cutting episodes permanently next year. The long-running shows currently air six episodes per week, but will be shifting to five weekly episodes each from January 2026.

ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to see their content cut by an hour a week between them from next year. Coronation Street currently airs for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale is four 30-minute episodes plus one hour-long instalment.

The Writer's Guild of Great Britain is reacting to ITV's major changes to soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale that will cost jobs.

Coronation Street and Emmerdale have announced a major shakeup as the ITV soap schedule has been cut in half to give the popular soaps a 'streaming-friendly' pace

ITV has confirmed a huge schedule shake up for its soaps in 2026. Hour-long episodes of Coronation Street are currently broadcast at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Emmerdale airs daily at 7.30pm with an hour long episode broadcast on Thursdays.