Corriedale may have aired as a one-off crossover, but its spectacular scenes are still paying off in a big way. Weeks after the episode hit screens, the special continues to pull in strong viewing figures, proving that the dramatic storyline left a lasting impact.
The Big Corriedale Crossover Brings A Strong Ratings Boost
The special episode brought together characters from Coronation Street and Emmerdale in a rare crossover event that immediately grabbed attention. The storyline centred on a major multi-vehicle crash, throwing characters from both soaps into one shared disaster packed with tension and shock moments. Even though the episode aired more than three weeks ago, viewers are still watching in large numbers.
According to Barb, Corriedale currently sits at number five on the UK TV chart for the week it aired. This latest update builds on ITV’s earlier announcement that the crossover became the most-watched UK drama episode since Call the Midwife in February 2025.
ITV confirmed that the episode delivered the highest overnight ratings for a soap in over a year and the biggest peak audience since 2022, outside of Christmas Day episodes.
Billy Mayhew’s Shocking Exit Fuels Viewer Interest
A huge reason for the ratings surge came from the episode’s most heartbreaking storyline; the death of Billy Mayhew. During the chaos, Billy tried to save Todd Grimshaw from the dangerous Theo Silverton, only for Theo to leave him to die.
Those scenes quickly became the emotional centre of the episode. Viewers reacted strongly to Theo’s cruelty, and many praised the show for delivering a powerful and emotional exit instead of a quiet goodbye.
The shock ending helped drive repeat viewing and online discussion. After the episode aired, ITV soap boss Iain MacLeod spoke about the scale of the storyline.
He explained that big soap moments need to feel earned and said Corriedale was designed to deliver a dramatic payoff that matched its ambition. While Corriedale was planned as a special event, its continued ratings success shows the impact of its spectacular scenes. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.