Coronation Street fans are expressing their displeasure as the World Cup forces significant schedule changes for the long-running ITV soap. The programme, which recently settled into a regular 8:30pm slot as part of a 'soap power hour' following Emmerdale, will be taken off air on Thursday night to broadcast the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa.
Revised Broadcast Schedule
Instead of its usual Thursday episode, Coronation Street will return on Friday night at 8pm for a full hour, airing after Emmerdale. The soap will then skip the weekend and return on Monday 15th June at 9pm for another hour-long instalment. A further hour-long episode will air on Tuesday at 9pm, compressing what would normally be four episodes into two broadcasts.
Episodes will also be available to stream on ITVX and YouTube from 7am on the day of linear broadcast.
Fan Reactions
Many fans took to social media to complain about the changes. On Reddit, one viewer suggested moving the football to a secondary channel: 'They have other channels, why not keep ITV as normal and show the football on ITV2 or ITV3? Not everyone likes football.' Another fan proposed that ITV work with FIFA to consider Coronation Street's schedule, or extend half-time to fit in an episode.
A third commented: 'An hour of Emmerdale and an hour of Corrie is a lot for one evening, especially a Friday. This kind of schedule is likely for the whole World Cup unfortunately.'
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
