After ITV revealed adjustments in the airing schedules for their soap operas Coronation Street and Emmerdale, professional organizations like Equity and The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain have voiced disapproval over reductions in the number of episodes being generated.
Starting from 2026, soaps will only consist of half-hour episodes that air every weeknight, reducing the weekly combined broadcast time from six hours to five hours for both programs.
During the announcement, ITV executive Kevin Lygo expressed that the reduced number of episodes would be an ideal amount for viewers to incorporate into their viewing schedules. Additionally, he pointed out that shorter, 30-minute episodes would offer a better opportunity to meet viewer expectations regarding storyline pace, payoff, and resolution, making them more suitable for streaming services.
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, I must say that Lygo has admitted to a shift in the commissioning pattern, which means we’ll be seeing five hours of soap operas weekly instead of the current six. This change is not lost on him, as he acknowledges it will affect the dedicated team behind these soaps.
Lygo stated, “We’ll stand by our ITV Studios team members during these transitions, aiming to lessen any potential negative effects on our workforce. These alterations are driven by our commitment to ensuring the longevity of these valuable shows.
After the announcement, some professional associations, like Equity (the UK’s performing arts and entertainment trade union), have voiced their disapproval of this decision.
Natalie Barker, representative from Equity TV, expressed her concerns in a statement: “The past 18 months have been challenging for British continuing dramas due to the cancellation of Doctors and reductions in Hollyoaks. Today’s announcement by ITV regarding episode cuts on Coronation Street and Emmerdale adds to these worries.
ITV has guaranteed us that starting from 2026, each soap opera will air five episodes instead of six weekly, without this change affecting the actors directly or altering their pay or contracts. Equity is communicating with the cast and working with ITV to lessen any possible negative effects of these modifications as much as possible.
It’s clear that having fewer episodes produced implies less job chances for our member artists working as guests or supports on these productions. This is a substantial setback for our members based in the North East and North West areas, further perpetuating the decline in screen work opportunities, particularly in regional settings and for emerging actors.
This month marks the debut of Equity’s inaugural committee dedicated to Deputies in Continuing Dramas. Our members from soap operas will unite for the first time, collaborating to protect and advocate for continuing dramas. We aim to secure promises from broadcasters to ensure the longevity of these vital TV shows that significantly contribute to UK production’s overall health.
Additionally, The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain expressed their worries upon hearing this news. The chairperson, Emma Reeves, stated that this action raises significant concerns, given the recent termination of BBC Doctors last year and the cancellation of Holby City before that.
Reeves went on to say: “Starting in 2026, Coronation Street and Emmerdale will air only five episodes per week instead of six. This change could limit job opportunities for our union members and deal another setback to the continuing drama genre. We are demanding more information from ITV and addressing the concerns of those directly impacted as a top priority.
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2025-02-05 19:35