The ITV programme has been taken off tonight’s TV schedule
Coronation Street has been taken off tonight’s schedule(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street will not air tonight due to a schedule shake-up on ITV1. Viewers can normally tune into the drama in Weatherfield on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. But the second episode of the week has been taken off tonight’s TV schedule due to coverage of the Carabao Cup.
Coverage of Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur stars on ITV1 at 7:30pm for an 8pm kick-off time. Mark Pougatch is joined by Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole to present coverage of the match between the Premier League rivals, which takes place at St James’ Park.
However, fans don’t have long to wait for their next instalment of the Manchester-based soap. Coronation Street will air tomorrow night (Thursday, October 30) at 8pm instead, followed by its usual episode on Friday at the same time.
It’s been a big week for the residents of Weatherfield as Catherine Tyledsley returned to the cast. Earlier this year, it was confirmed the actress would be reprising her role as Eva Price after seven years away from the soap.
Catherine’s final scenes aired in August 2018 but the 41-year-old is now back on set filming in Weatherfield. Actors Aaron McCusker and Pauline McLynn arrived alongside Catherine on Monday as Eva’s partner Ben Driscoll and his interfering mother Maggie. The couple also share three children, Eva’s daughter Susie and Ben’s two sons.
In Monday’s episode, outside the Rovers, Eva’s new beau Ben removed his partner’s blindfold and revealed he’s bought the pub for her as a surprise. Across the street, Maria watched in horror, after noticing Eva Price was back for good.
Eva thanked Ben for the best surprise ever, while Leanne hugged Eva, pleased to have her sister back. Eva urged Leanne to go and fetch Toyah so they could all have a drink together and clear the air.
Eva Price returned to the street with new boyfriend Ben Driscoll(Image: ITV)
As well as the current disruption to the scheudule, fans can expect more changes next year. ITV recently confirmed a full revamp to its usual broadcasting routine.
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.
Kevin 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, payoff and resolution.
“While 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.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX