The ITV soap has been cancelled tonight
Emmerdale will not air on ITV1 tonight(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Emmerdale will not air at its usual time slot this evening due to ITV1’s coverage of the UEFA Women’s Euros. England will go up against Italy in the first semi-final, which takes place at the Stade de Genève in Switzerland.
The Lionesses are getting closer to retaining their title as they get ready for the match this evening. Coverage starts at 7pm, ready for an 8pm kick-off which means that Emmerdale has been scrapped from the schedule.
Emmerdale fans can normally tune in to the drama in the Dales every weeknight from 7:30pm. But it isn’t the first time the Yorkshire-based soap has faced disruption to do sports coverage, as ITV announced last month they would be broadcasting the UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 on ITV1.
Emmerdale will return to screens as normal tomorrow night (Wednesday, July 23) as Cain Dingle struggles in the aftermath of Nate’s death.
John has framed Owen for Nate’s death(Image: ITV)
Soap fans have faced weeks of disruption as Coronation Street has also been caught up in the scheduling chaos on ITV1 over the past month.
Viewers did not shy away from expressing their frustration when their favourite soaps were taken off air. Taking to social media, one fan said: “It baffles me that they can’t put football on a sports channel!!!”
More angry viewers added to the comments on Instagram. One said: “Just put the footy on ITV2 why change the schedule” and another wrote: “Not more disruption because of football. Sort it out.”
However, fans can expect more changes to their daily schedule after ITV have recently confirmed a full revamp to its usual broadcasting routine next year.
Coronation Street usually airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for an hour-long broadcast from 8pm until 9pm, with Emmerdale airing every night. But next year, 30 minute episodes of both soaps will air each night in a new schedule.
ITV has branded the change a soaps power hour as a 30 minute episode of Emmerdale will be followed by a 30 minute episode of Corrie each weeknight. My Lygo said: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led.
“We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way.
“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.
“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30 minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.
“Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully. It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps.”
Emmerdale airs on Wednesday at 7:30pm on ITV1