Fans of ITV's flagship soaps hoping for more joint episodes after the historic 'Corriedale' event are set for disappointment. The executive producer overseeing both Coronation Street and Emmerdale has confirmed there are currently no plans to repeat the groundbreaking crossover.
Why Corriedale Will Be A One-Off
Iain MacLeod, who holds the reins at both long-running serials, has poured cold water on the idea of future collaborations. He explained that while the special episode is a brilliant way to launch the new schedule, the two shows are best kept as distinct entities.
"People love Corrie and people love Emmerdale and their distinct entities," MacLeod stated. "They have their own tone of voice and their own sense of humour and their way of telling stories, and they wouldn't blend long-term at all."
He was definitive about the future, adding: "I think it's brilliant to bring them together for this, but no, there are no plans to do anything similar in the future. Sorry to be the killjoy."
The Big Schedule Shake-Up
The 'Corriedale' crossover, airing on Monday 5 January at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, serves as the launchpad for a significant change in the soaps' broadcasting pattern. Dubbed 'the power hour', the new schedule will see Emmerdale air weeknights at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm.
This move reduces Coronation Street to 30-minute episodes but increases its frequency to five nights a week, while Emmerdale loses its traditional hour-long Thursday installment. MacLeod cited changing viewer habits, particularly the rise of ITVX, as the driving force.
"What we're discovering is more and more people are watching on ITVX," he said. "If you're trying to fit an episode of soap into your day... it's much easier to do that if it's a half-hour transmission." He believes the half-hour format is "the right length of soap" and more digestible for modern audiences.
Behind the Scenes of a Soap First
The episode itself promises high drama, with a devastating stunt threatening lives and revealing secrets that will change the fates of beloved characters. Despite the effort poured into this unique project, MacLeod insists it's a standalone celebration.
He also revealed the amusing struggle to name the event. "We spent ages thinking what's it going to be called? And then we were like, well, Corriedale is almost the first word out of anyone's mouths... we spent months and months torturing ourselves. But no, we'll just call it Corriedale."
The boss is so fond of the final result that he joked about getting the logo printed on a t-shirt, calling it a "soap first" and one of the projects he is "most proud of" in his career.
While 'Corriedale' will be a must-watch event on 5 January, it seems this ambitious collision of Weatherfield and the Dales is destined to remain a singular moment in British television history.
