Soap fans have been hearing all sorts of news lately about possible changes at Coronation Street and Emmerdale. With new schedules already confirmed and more rumours doing the rounds, it’s starting to feel like something big could be brewing. And while ITV has now spoken up, what they said hasn’t exactly cleared the air.
First Came the Episode Cuts!
Not long ago, ITV confirmed that both Corrie and Emmerdale will cut back to five episodes a week instead of six starting next year. That decision alone had fans raising eyebrows. The new schedule will begin with a special crossover episode between the two soaps, which ITV has described as a “celebration of the genre.”
At the same time, ITV’s entire daytime lineup is being reworked. Shows like This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine, and Good Morning Britain are all set to see changes in the new year. With the broadcaster tightening up across the board, many started wondering if the soaps might be next in line for more cuts. To add to the concerns, the actors’ union Equity confirmed they’ve been in talks with ITV.
Coronation Street: Reports Claim Big Cast Cuts; Here’s What ITV Said
A report in The Guardian shared that ITV’s profits had dropped by 44% in the first half of the year. Because of that, the channel has reportedly lowered its programming budget from £1.25 billion to £1.23 billion. After that came a piece from The Sun which claimed that ITV might cut 10% of the regular cast from both soaps, around 8 actors from Corrie and 7 from Emmerdale.
The report also mentioned fewer scenes per episode to help save money. That part especially hit hard with fans, as many felt the heart of the show could be lost with too much trimming. ITV has now responded, saying the claims made in The Sun were “complete speculation.” They didn’t go into detail, but they clearly dismissed the story. Still, it hasn’t stopped people from worrying, especially since ITV’s Director of Television, Kevin Lygo, recently admitted there would “likely be cuts.” He added that ITV would try to “mitigate the impact on our people” as much as possible.
With all the reports flying around, people are feeling unsure. The confirmed episode cuts already showed that change is coming. And with Equity involved and profits down, it’s easy to see why there’s concern over who might be affected next. Even the crossover episode, which should be exciting, now feels a bit like a distraction. Right now, there’s no official word on cast members leaving. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for all the latest updates on Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and more.