Emmerdale starts 2026 with the Corriedale crossover. And the whole thing is already getting people talking. Lucy Pargeter spoke about how tough things have become. She also gave her view on the crossover and why it matters this time. ITV’s new plan for both soaps is also part of the talk. Keep scrolling to know more.
Corriedale Opens ITV’s New Soap Setup
Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas in the soap, spoke at the Corriedale red carpet launch in Bradford. She discussed how soaps move forward in 2026. She also discussed what the crossover aims to bring. “Corriedale airs on Monday, January 5, at 8 pm on ITV1.
Characters from both the soaps will appear. And this special will be a major start for both shows this year. ITV rolls out its new “soap power hour” with this launch. And ITV is planning to use Corriedale as the key opener for the new schedule.
Lucy also openly spoke about the pressure television faces. She said the team tried everything over the years. They even tried live episodes and stunts. However, every soap wants viewership because people either download or catch up instead of seeing it live. And because of this, changing viewing habits, soaps have to try new ideas.
Moreover, she says that the crossover feels natural. It’s because the two functional locations are close to each other. And so viewers will have a chance to see familiar characters together for a single storyline. She said there could be a possibility of more crossovers. If the ITV gets results, they surely will. Moreover, she even joked that she would take a job at The Rovers and swap roles with Coronation Street stars.
Emmerdale Star Lucy Pargeter On Viewers And Soap Format Changes
Lucy shared a view of how British soaps operate. The industry sees fewer live viewers across channels. People pay attention to streaming and delayed watching. And so the soaps have to find new ways to keep the audience interested. However, Lucy thinks crossovers bring viewers back. And the cast enjoyed both worlds linking up for the event.
Corriedale will bring key characters from both soaps into one event. Elsewhere, ITV will see how the audience reacts to it. And if people are giving stronger responses, then more crossovers might happen in future. For more Emmerdale spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.