Emmerdale viewers are being warned to brace themselves for a disruptive week ahead, as ITV confirms major scheduling changes that will significantly alter when —

and how often — the beloved soap airs. With sporting events taking priority once again, the Yorkshire-based drama faces a reduced presence on screens,

leaving loyal fans frustrated and worried about what this means for the show’s future.

For many viewers, watching Emmerdale has become a daily ritual. In recent months, fans have grown accustomed to accessing episodes as early as 7.00am via ITVX and YouTube, long before the drama unfolds on ITV1 in the evening. That convenience has been especially welcomed amid the show’s darker, more emotionally charged storylines, which have sparked intense discussion across social media.

More recently, ITV attempted to sweeten the deal for soap lovers by teaming Emmerdale with Coronation Street in a newly branded “Soap Power Hour.” On its scheduled nights, Emmerdale airs at 8.00pm, immediately followed by Corrie at 8.30pm — a double dose of drama designed to boost ratings and reignite appointment viewing.

But this week, that routine has been thrown completely off course.

When Is Emmerdale On This Week?

ITV has confirmed that Emmerdale will air just three times this week:

• Monday 2 February at 8.00pm
• Wednesday 4 February at 8.00pm
• Friday 6 February at 8.00pm

Noticeably absent are the usual Tuesday and Thursday episodes — a change that has not gone unnoticed by fans who rely on the soap as a near-daily escape.

Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars line up for the Corriedale premiere

The disruption is due to major sporting events taking precedence on ITV’s prime-time schedule. On Tuesday, coverage of the Carabao Cup Live match between Arsenal and Chelsea will air in Emmerdale’s usual slot. Thursday follows suit, with Emmerdale again pushed aside to make room for Six Nations rugby coverage.

The same reduced schedule applies to Coronation Street, which will only air on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week, following directly after Emmerdale.

Fans React With Anger and Disappointment

Unsurprisingly, the changes have sparked outrage among soap viewers, many of whom feel Emmerdale is being treated as expendable whenever major sports coverage rolls around.

Social media quickly filled with complaints, with fans expressing frustration not just at this week’s disruption, but at what they see as a worrying pattern.

“I remember when episodes were just moved to a different time because of football,” one viewer wrote. “Now it feels like the new standard is just no episode at all.”

A still from the dramatic crossover Corriedale episode

Another added, “This is so painful. There are very few shows I actually make time to watch, and they keep getting shoved aside.”

Some fans voiced deeper concerns about the long-term impact of these decisions. “They already cut the show from six episodes a week to five,” one comment read. “Now it feels like every other week we lose another episode. By 2026, how many episodes will we actually be getting compared to now?”

The sense of unease reflects a broader anxiety among soap fans, many of whom worry that repeated schedule disruptions could weaken viewer loyalty and dilute the emotional momentum of ongoing storylines.

What Does This Mean for Current Storylines?

The timing of the schedule change couldn’t be worse for Emmerdale. The soap is currently in the midst of several high-stakes plots, including Moira Dingle’s devastating arrest, the fallout from recent murders, and deep fractures forming across multiple families in the village.

With episodes spread further apart, viewers fear the emotional impact of these storylines could be blunted. Soap storytelling relies heavily on rhythm — cliffhangers, continuity, and sustained tension — all of which suffer when episodes are removed entirely rather than rescheduled.

For many fans, it’s not just about missing an episode; it’s about losing the thread of a story they’ve emotionally invested in.

Can Fans Still Watch on ITVX?

For viewers hoping to bypass the disruption by turning to streaming, there is some — but limited — good news.

A bearded Steve Evet appears at the Brassic 5 premiere

Episodes of Emmerdale are only made available on ITVX from 7.00am on days when the show is airing on television. That means:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday episodes will be available on ITVX from 7.00am
• Tuesday and Thursday episodes will not exist at all — and therefore will not appear on ITVX

The same rules apply to Coronation Street.

In other words, fans won’t be able to “catch up” on missed days, because those episodes are simply not being broadcast or produced for this week.

A Silver Lining for Soap Fans?

Despite the disruption, ITV is offering at least one incentive to keep viewers tuned in. There is fresh excitement around a crossover casting development involving actor Steve Evets.

Known for his roles in Shameless, Brassic, and his earlier appearance in Emmerdale during the 1990s as Tom Shepherd, Evets is set to appear in Coronation Street as the father of Shona and Jodie. His arrival at 8.30pm has already sparked curiosity and nostalgia among long-time soap fans.

Still, for many Emmerdale loyalists, it’s small comfort amid growing concerns that soaps are increasingly being sidelined in favor of sports and live events.

A Growing Fear for the Future

While ITV insists these changes are temporary, the reaction from fans highlights a deeper issue: a fear that soaps are no longer being treated as flagship programming.

As Emmerdale continues to deliver powerful performances and emotionally heavy storylines, viewers are asking whether the show is being given the stability it deserves.

For now, fans are being urged to mark their calendars carefully — and hope that next week brings a return to normality.

But as frustration continues to mount, one thing is clear: Emmerdale may still dominate hearts, but its place on the schedule feels increasingly uncertain.