Fans of Coronation Street haven’t been shy about pointing out what they see as a strange creative oversight during a key episode tied to the upcoming Corriedale crossover. As excitement builds for the shared-universe moment, viewers believe the show missed a simple but effective chance to make the crossover feel more natural and they’re questioning why one obvious detail was left unexplored.
A Setup That Made Expectations Inevitable
In the run-up to the crossover, Coronation Street carefully planted references to Emmerdale, encouraging fans to watch closely for subtle links between the two soaps. Those expectations only grew stronger as the storyline surrounding Debbie Webster and Ronnie Bailey’s wedding took centre stage. The show’s anticipation further by revealing that Belle Dingle had organised the wedding.
Belle openly referenced the challenges of dealing with Debbie’s demanding personality, mentioning her diva tendencies and her insistence on certain elements for the big day.
When the wedding episode aired on Friday, 2 January, it delivered emotional moments, particularly through the choir, which featured singers from a real-life dementia choir. As the final Corrie episode before the crossover and the shift in ITV’s soap schedule, the episode felt like the perfect place to quietly connect the two worlds even more strongly.
The Absence Coronation Street Fans Couldn’t Ignore
Despite that careful setup, fans quickly noticed that Belle herself never appeared at the wedding. Viewers found it odd that a character so closely tied to the planning process was missing entirely from the event she had helped organise. One Reddit user explained that wedding planners usually attend the weddings they arrange, even briefly, and said Belle’s absence felt strange rather than subtle.
Another fan shared that they had expected crossover characters to be introduced before Corriedale itself. Over on X, fans echoed the same frustration. One viewer said a small Belle cameo would have been fun and effective, while another questioned how Belle could plan the wedding without being present to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Crossover writer Owen Lloyd-Fox has shared that he wanted far more time to explore the crossover than the schedule allowed. He revealed that he had pushed Iain MacLeod for a longer format. He explained that he asked for either a movie-length special or an entire week of crossover episodes. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for all the latest Coronation Street and Emmerdale news.