Just weeks after ITV unveiled what it promised would be a “new normal” for its flagship soaps, chaos has already set in. In a move that has stunned and angered viewers,

Emmerdale and Coronation Street are both being pulled from the schedule on two major nights next week, replaced entirely by live sport — sparking outrage

and renewed fears about the long-term future of Britain’s most beloved serial dramas.

Under the revised schedule introduced earlier this year, fans were told to expect a more streamlined, consistent routine. Emmerdale was set to air at 8pm for 30 minutes, followed immediately by Coronation Street at 8.30pm, also for 30 minutes. While the reduction in episode numbers had already been a bitter pill to swallow, many viewers reluctantly accepted the changes in the hope of greater stability.

Instead, that stability has unravelled almost immediately.

Next Tuesday, viewers tuning in for their usual dose of village and cobbles drama will be met with an entirely different offering. Neither Emmerdale nor Coronation Street will air at all. In their place, ITV will broadcast a live EFL Cup football match between Arsenal and Chelsea — a scheduling decision that has blindsided soap fans who were given little warning.

The disruption doesn’t end there. On Thursday night, the soaps are once again pushed aside, this time for a Six Nations rugby clash between France and Ireland. Two nights, zero episodes — and for many viewers, patience has officially run out.

The backlash has been swift and fierce.

Social media platforms and fan forums quickly filled with furious reactions, with loyal viewers accusing ITV of sidelining soaps in favour of sport and treating long-running dramas as expendable. Many pointed out that while scheduling clashes with football and rugby are nothing new, the way ITV is now handling them feels fundamentally different — and far more damaging.

“I remember the times we used to get episodes moved to other times because of the football,” one fan wrote. “Even last year. But now it seems like the new standard is simply no episode at all on sports days.”

That sentiment was echoed again and again. For decades, soaps were rescheduled, delayed, or doubled up to ensure stories continued to unfold. Now, entire episodes are simply disappearing — and viewers are noticing.

“This is so painful,” another fan commented. “There are very few shows that I actually make time to watch, and they keep being shunted. It feels like they just don’t care anymore.”

The anger runs deeper than a single week of disruption. Many fans see this as part of a worrying pattern that began with the recent reduction in weekly episodes. Both Emmerdale and Coronation Street were previously airing six episodes per week. That number has already been cut to five — a move ITV justified by citing production pressures, budget concerns, and a desire to “protect quality.”

But critics argue that the reality tells a different story.

Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been pulled from schedules next week

The decision to pull the soaps has left fans furious

“This is stupid,” one viewer fumed. “They already cut all the extra episodes going from six to five per week. Now every other week it seems like they lose another episode. So in 2026, how many fewer episodes will there really be compared to 2025?”

That question cuts to the heart of the controversy. When episodes are removed outright rather than rescheduled, ongoing storylines inevitably suffer. Emotional arcs lose momentum. Cliff-hangers are delayed. Character development is interrupted. For shows built on continuity and long-term investment, these gaps can be deeply disruptive.

Another fan went even further, suggesting a more calculated agenda behind the changes. “This whole new schedule is a ploy to tear our beloved soap episodes away from us,” they wrote. “Same thing is happening with Corrie.”

For many, Emmerdale and Coronation Street are more than just television shows. They are nightly rituals, emotional touchstones, and reflections of everyday life that have been part of British culture for generations. Pulling them from the schedule — even temporarily — feels, to some, like a betrayal of that legacy.

Industry insiders acknowledge that live sport brings in strong ratings and advertising revenue, particularly for high-profile matches involving major teams or international tournaments. But viewers argue that soaps have proven their value time and again, delivering loyal audiences night after night for decades.

The frustration is compounded by the sense that soaps are no longer being protected in the way they once were. Where previous scheduling conflicts resulted in later air times or additional episodes later in the week, the current approach appears to prioritise convenience over commitment.

ITV has yet to issue a detailed response addressing fan concerns, but the silence has only fuelled speculation. Some fear this is a testing ground — a gradual conditioning of audiences to fewer episodes, more gaps, and less consistency. Others worry that younger viewers, already drifting away from traditional soaps, will simply not return once the habit is broken.

For now, Emmerdale and Coronation Street will resume their usual slots once the sports events conclude. But the damage may already be done. Trust, once shaken, is not easily restored — and viewers are watching ITV’s next moves closely.

As the network continues to juggle sport, drama, and changing viewing habits, one thing is clear: soap fans are no longer willing to quietly accept being pushed aside. This latest shake-up hasn’t just altered the schedule — it has reignited a fierce debate about the future of Britain’s most iconic television institutions.