If you’re a fan of either Coronation Street or Emmerdale, then you would have to deal with some persistent and, often frustrating, schedule changes recently. That’s no different this week, as both ITV soaps aren’t on again today.
In recent weeks, the catalogue of live sport has meant that ITV has often shifted a weekday episode to the Sunday night, but today’s change is due to some big events in the world of reality TV.
First of all, we have the live final for I’m a Celebrity… South Africa, which is being spread across two timeslots beginning at 7.30pm and 10pm respectively. In between at 9pm, we have the launch for Graham Norton’s new series The Neighbourhood.
ITV
Related: Coronation Street’s Shona Platt in frame for next week’s murder
In a slight change from usual, the absent episode isn’t actually being aired on Sunday this week, with both soaps set to return in their usual slots – dubbed the soap ‘power hour – on both ITV1 and streamer ITVX on Monday (27 April).
In particular, it’s set to be a big week ahead in Weatherfield, with the soap beginning its murder-mystery storyline after Carla Connor and Lisa Swain finally tied the knot in Thursday’s instalment.
Towards the end of the episode, an ominous scream could be heard outside, though Carla remarked that it was “just foxes”. It’s not the case, with an upcoming development confirming that Betsy let out the noise after discovering a dead body.
We are yet to know the identity of the deceased, but the victim list has been whittled down to five candidates – Maggie Driscoll, Carl Webster, Theo Silverton, Megan Walsh and Jodie Ramsey.
The aptly-titled ‘Murder Week’ will begin with Betsy finding the body, with each of the episodes focusing on one of the five characters in the lead-up to the grisly discovery. After the victim is confirmed, the hunt for the killer will begin.
“Since the reveal of the identities of the possible murder victims in February, each of them has turned more towards the dark side, giving many reasons why someone would want them dead,” reads the logline for the storyline.
ITV
Related: Emmerdale confirms special episode details as Cain and Moira face a new crisis
“But who will breathe their last on the night of Carla and Lisa’s wedding, and who will be left with blood on their hands?” it continues, with a recent teaser seeing funeral director George Shuttleworth being stood alongside a wreath in the shape of a question mark.
Over in the Dales, meanwhile, there will be the aftermath of Charity Dingle’s dramatic labour storyline, while Jacob Sugden’s decision to withdraw his complaint against Dr Caitlin Todd will backfire as the villain continues to plot away.
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX. Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale – as Weatherfield’s murder mystery unfolds, and Grant Mitchell returns to Walford!