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Coronation Street to move timeslots in big ITV schedule shake-up

These schedule changes are intended to bolster regional and national news output.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 24th January 2022

Coronation Street is set to permanently move timeslots in one of ITV’s biggest programming scheduling shake-ups in years.

Starting from March 2022, ITV’s other popular soap Emmerdale will move to Corrie’s usual 7:30pm home after an hour’s worth of news programming, and then, instead of having split episodes, Coronation Street will soon have three hour long episodes on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8pm.

For soap fans, this unfortunately now puts Coronation Street into a direct clash with EastEnders, which always airs on BBC One at either 7:30pm and 8pm on every weekday except Wednesday.

According to ITV, these big schedule changes are intended to bolster regional and national news output, before directly lead into the popular serial dramas – which will give a 6:30pm-9pm chunk of consistent output.

Speaking on the new schedule shake-up, John Whiston – ITV’s Managing Director of Continuing Drama – said: “With Coronation Street bursting at the seams with fantastic story and character, the new format gives the show a brilliant new canvas on which to shine.

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“And Emmerdale will do what it does best in this new time slot where viewers can continue to enjoy the dramatic goings on in the Dales.”

“As viewing habits rapidly change, live audiences to our national and international news programmes remain remarkably strong,” added ITV’s Managing Director Kevin Lygo.

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“Our evening news programme reached an impressive 35.6 million viewers in 2021 [so] we are very excited to be announcing this investment in what is an important public service strength of ITV… at a time when it could not be more important.”

Read more: Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale join forces for first ever soap crossover storyline

He continued: “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.

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“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.”

Featured Image – ITV Hub