Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars confirmed for contract changes as cast appearances set to reduce

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ITV has announced that actors on Coronation Street and Emmerdale will appear in fewer episodes each year, as the broadcaster plans to make fewer episodes of both shows overall.

In January, the network’s two main dramas each released one episode every week, switching to a new schedule of airing episodes every night.

Following a groundbreaking episode where the characters from the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale appeared together, a new programming block nicknamed “soaps power hour” was introduced.

After ITV revealed its updated programming schedule, Kevin Lygo, the head of Media and Entertainment, explained that the changes are based on what viewers want to watch.

With ITVX, viewers now have more ways to watch than ever before, and we’re committed to making their favorite soaps easy to enjoy.

With so many entertainment options and constantly shifting viewing habits, we think this episode length strikes the right balance, allowing fans to easily stay current with the show.

Because the show is cutting 104 episodes each year, actors can expect to appear on screen less often in the future.

A representative confirmed to TopMob that ITV is adjusting the number of episodes guaranteed to the actors on Coronation Street and Emmerdale. This change aligns with a new scheduling strategy for the network’s soap operas that was implemented earlier this year.

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This probably explains why the broadcaster is now letting its performers work on other projects; for example, Bradley Riches, who stars in Emmerdale, will be appearing in a pantomime later this year.

According to The Sun on Sunday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and the Equity union are helping actors deal with upcoming income reductions, which are expected to be around 16%. The report suggests that actors who have worked on the show the longest might be shielded from the full impact due to the terms of their original contracts.

TopMob recognizes that performers frequently work on more episodes than initially guaranteed in their contracts, so changes to episode counts likely won’t affect their paychecks.

Furthermore, they stated that no prior discussion took place, and approximately 140 cast members and their representatives were simply notified of the changes by email.

Equity stated they are assisting their members who work on ongoing dramas at ITV, particularly concerning choices made about their contracts.

Emmerdale returns Monday at 8pm on ITV1. Coronation Street follows at 8.30pm. Stream on ITVX.

Don’t miss Emmerdale! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.

Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing the latest news and spoilers for popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and even had on-set experience with both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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2026-03-09 14:39