This summer, fans of Britain’s biggest soaps—Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and EastEnders—are in for a schedule shake-up as broadcasters adjust their regular programming to make room for major sporting events, including Wimbledon and the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. These temporary changes will affect the timing and frequency of episodes across June and July, leaving viewers needing to keep a close eye on when their favorite dramas will air. The shift, while disruptive for some, is also an opportunity for networks to highlight the flexibility of modern viewing platforms like ITVX and BBC iPlayer.
ITV confirmed that both Coronation Street and Emmerdale will undergo notable schedule adjustments during the first week of July. Instead of the usual pattern, episodes will be redistributed across earlier days in the week to accommodate sports coverage. For example, Coronation Street will air on Monday, July 1st, and Wednesday, July 3rd, with no episode scheduled for Friday, due to UEFA match broadcasts. The Monday and Wednesday episodes will both be hour-long, maintaining the regular content volume but in a condensed format.
Emmerdale will follow a similar model. The soap will air a half-hour episode on Monday, a one-hour special on Tuesday, and another half-hour episode on Wednesday. Episodes on Thursday and Friday will be dropped for that week, again due to sporting conflicts. To minimize viewer disruption, ITV will make all episodes available for early streaming each morning from 7am on ITVX, allowing fans to watch them on their own time.
Meanwhile, over on the BBC, EastEnders will be taking even more dramatic scheduling steps. Starting the week of July 1st, the show will forgo its usual Monday and Tuesday broadcasts entirely, opting instead for a double bill on Wednesday and single episodes on Thursday and Friday. In a further twist, EastEnders will temporarily move to BBC Two for certain episodes, depending on live Wimbledon matches airing on BBC One. These changes may feel jarring to longtime viewers, but the BBC has reassured fans that every episode will remain available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand viewing.
These scheduling shifts are nothing new for British television, especially during summers filled with high-profile sports. However, this year marks a particularly intense stretch, with both Wimbledon and the Women’s Euros occupying primetime slots across multiple weeks. With broadcasters under pressure to balance coverage of national events with fan-favorite dramas, compromises had to be made.
The good news is that networks are being careful not to reduce the total number of soap episodes aired—only rescheduling them. This reflects a growing awareness of how dedicated and vocal soap fans can be, especially when episodes are cut or storylines delayed. Producers have taken steps to ensure that plots continue uninterrupted, with writers adjusting pacing to fit the revised schedule. There will be no skipped story beats or dropped cliffhangers—just a different rhythm to the week.
Viewer response has been mixed. Some have taken to social media to express frustration at losing their usual evening routine, while others are welcoming the chance to binge multiple episodes in one sitting. With streaming platforms becoming more integrated into everyday viewing, many fans are already adjusting. Early access releases on ITVX and BBC iPlayer are helping to mitigate the disruption, giving fans more freedom over when and how they watch.
From a production standpoint, the schedule shake-up presents challenges as well. Editors, marketing teams, and promotional campaigns all have to adjust their timelines. Promo trailers must clearly communicate when new episodes will air, and social media channels have taken on the task of reminding viewers daily. On-screen continuity announcers will also play a key role in keeping the public informed.
The storyline pacing has also been restructured slightly. For instance, major plot twists or character exits that were originally planned for a Friday night cliffhanger may now occur mid-week. This may actually add to the drama, as fans won’t have to wait as long over the weekend to find out what happens next. Instead, explosive moments might unfold on a Tuesday or Wednesday, changing the usual viewing rhythm.
What’s clear is that British soaps remain a cultural cornerstone, even in the face of shifting schedules. ITV and BBC’s efforts to preserve the number of weekly episodes, while accommodating sports fans and drama lovers alike, speaks to the ongoing importance of soaps in British life. This summer’s reshuffle may be inconvenient, but it’s also a sign of how broadcasting is evolving—blending live TV with flexible, on-demand streaming in a way that keeps long-running shows like Corrie, Emmerdale, and EastEnders relevant for today’s audiences.
Looking ahead, these temporary changes may hint at more permanent adjustments in future years. ITV has already announced a new, simplified evening soap block starting in January 2026, which will see Emmerdale and Coronation Street airing consecutively in shorter, more digestible episodes across the week. The move is designed to reflect modern viewing habits and reduce broadcast overload while keeping fan engagement high. In that sense, this summer’s shake-up is both a short-term workaround and a glimpse into the future of British television.
In the meantime, fans are encouraged to keep a close watch on official social media channels, episode guides, and on-screen announcements to stay updated. Whether watching live, catching up on streaming, or recording for later, there’s no shortage of drama on the cobbles, in the dales, or on Albert Square. The schedule may change—but the heart of the story remains the same.
