Both Emmerdale and Coronation Street will air on ITV tonight (Friday, August 28), after Tuesday's episodes were dropped from the schedule. An extra episode of each soap will also air on Sunday, August 30, to make up for the missed instalments.
Tuesday episodes cut for Carabao Cup
Tuesday's (August 25) episodes of both soaps were removed from the schedule due to ITV's broadcast of the EFL Carabao Cup match between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. The disruption hit Emmerdale during a week focused on the aftermath of Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) and Dawn Taylor's (Olivia Bromley) ill-fated wedding, which ended in tragedy when Dawn returned to Joe after discovering the truth about Billy Fletcher's (Jay Kontzle) lies, and both were hit by a car driven by Jimmy King (Nick Miles), who swerved into their marquee and lost his own life.
Coronation Street, meanwhile, has centred on Tim and Sally Metcalfe's (Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor) struggles with Lucy Parkinson (Anya Dewin), the deeply traumatised daughter of Tim's killer cousin, and Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien) dangerous prison predicament.
What to expect tonight and Sunday
Tonight's Emmerdale will see DI Ramsden's (Chelsea Edge) motivations become clearer and Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) struggle to contain her guilt. Corrie will see Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) consider intervening to help Sarah. Sunday's Emmerdale will continue to deal with the fallout of the crash, as villagers navigate their new reality after the devastation and loss. Coronation Street will see the departure of Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) as she leaves for a new life in Whitby.
Future of the soaps secured
With the recent acquisition of ITV by Sky, soap fans had worried about the future of their favourite programmes, but those fears have been eased. A quote from Sky reads: 'TV fan favourites are here to stay'. Sky added: 'We've agreed a long-term content partnership with ITV studios, to secure the future of many of Britain's most-watched programmes, including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Love Island, I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women.' ITV managing director Kevin Lygo later confirmed: 'These shows will continue.'
Kevin praised the success of ITV's soap 'power hour', saying: 'They've embedded now, that block at 8 pm is still always the highest-viewed thing of that day,' adding: 'It's really important,' and declaring: 'Long may it continue' in reference to the channel's flagship soaps.
