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Corrie and Emmerdale will be going up against EastEnders, “as ITV expand their news program for an hour between 6:30pm and 7:30pm,” according to the Daily Mail.
ITV announced the news on Monday when it sent out schedule change information from both of the soaps’ official Twitter accounts. After the switch-up, Coronation Street fans will see three hour-long episodes a week airing at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Emmerdale will air at 7:30pm, directly following the news broadcast.
EastEnders spoilers – Is the BBC Soap In Jeopardy?
The news has fans venting on social media, with rumors springing up that EastEnders could be in jeopardy. The BBC soap debuted in 1985. Fans are comparing EastEnders’ situation to that of Channel 4’s show Brookside which left the airwaves in 2003 after a decline in audience numbers.
Fans are particularly sensitive to the show’s fate now that soap legend Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter, is leaving the BBC sudser.
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EastEnders Spoilers – Danny Dyer Has Quit
John Whiston is ITV’s Managing Director of Continuing Drama and he said of the schedule change, “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.”
He added, “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.”
Meanwhile ITV’s Managing Director Kevin Lygo issued this statement: “As viewing habits rapidly change, live audiences to our national and international news programs remain remarkably strong.”
EastEnders spoilers – What Happens Next on the BBC Soap?
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Lygo’s statement continued: “Our evening news program reached an impressive 35.6 million viewers in 2021. We are very excited to be announcing this investment in what is an important public service strength of ITV – high-quality, impartial, trusted broadcast journalism – at a time when it could not be more important.”
“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. 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.”
Fans reacted swiftly to the news with one poster writing, “I think it’s a dirty move from ITV trying to kill EE off… I got anxiety, EastEnders is the next Brookside, this is going to kill the show.”
Another lamented, “This gives me anxiety. What if EastEnders is axed – a world without EE. I can’t even think about it.”
One fan remained optimistic posting: “I don’t think it’s them trying to kill off EastEnders – more about boosting the ITV schedule and its own soaps. They know BBC will almost certainly just have to move EE.”
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