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.

Up to 75 positions across Coronation Street and Emmerdale could be cut ahead of cost-cutting measures on the ITV soaps. The two flagship soaps will move to a new broadcast pattern from January 2026, both reducing their episode count from six to five.