Just weeks after the broadcaster proudly unveiled its much-publicised “Soap Power Hour,” the network has already pulled the rug out from under its most devoted audiences—cutting episodes,

axing nights entirely, and replacing beloved drama with live sport. For a fanbase that plans evenings around Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales, the move feels less like

a temporary adjustment and more like a blunt statement of priorities.

The Soap Power Hour, launched with considerable fanfare on January 5, promised a new era for ITV’s flagship soaps. The restructured schedule placed Emmerdale at 8:00 p.m., followed by Coronation Street at 8:30 p.m., offering viewers a solid, uninterrupted hour of drama. The rollout was even marked by a historic one-off crossover episode—dubbed “Corrie-Dale”—which saw characters from both soaps collide for the first time ever. It was billed as a bold, celebratory moment for British soap culture.

But that optimism has evaporated almost as quickly as it arrived.

In the week beginning February 1, ITV has confirmed that both Emmerdale and Coronation Street will be completely removed from the schedule on two separate nights. On Tuesday, February 3, viewers expecting their usual trip to the Dales and Weatherfield will instead find live coverage of the Arsenal vs Chelsea EFL Cup match. Two days later, on Thursday, February 5, the soaps will again be bumped—this time for a Six Nations rugby clash between France and Ireland.

Crucially, neither soap will “double up” on other nights to compensate for the lost episodes. According to ITV, doing so would disrupt the newly established Power Hour format. The result? Fans simply lose episodes altogether.

For long-time viewers, that explanation has only added fuel to the fire.

The frustration is compounded by the fact that the Power Hour had already reduced overall soap output. Both Emmerdale and Coronation Street lost 30 minutes per week under the new schedule, moving from six episodes a week to five. Now, with additional nights wiped out by sport, fans are asking an uncomfortable question: how much soap will actually remain by the end of the year?

Social media erupted within hours of the news breaking. Viewers took to X, Facebook, and fan forums to vent their anger, disappointment, and exhaustion at what they see as a steady erosion of their favourite shows.

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

Another added, “This is stupid. They already cut the episodes from six to five a week. Now every other week, it seems like another episode disappears. By 2026, how many fewer episodes will we actually be getting compared to 2025?”

Others were even more blunt. “This whole new schedule feels like a ploy to slowly tear our beloved soaps away from us,” one viewer commented, echoing a sentiment shared by many.

For some, the frustration goes beyond inconvenience. Soap operas are a ritual—comfort viewing woven into daily life. One fan summed it up painfully: “There are very few shows I genuinely look forward to, and they keep being shunted around. It’s exhausting.”

Ironically, several viewers admitted they had just begun to warm to the new Power Hour format. Watching longer episodes across fewer nights felt more immersive, more satisfying. Now, they’re being asked to adapt yet again.

“I’d only just got used to the hour-long slots and actually liked them,” one fan wrote. “Now we have to get used to another change.”

And then there were the more tongue-in-cheek responses, masking genuine irritation. “Cancel football instead,” one viewer raged—a comment that quickly gained traction among equally exasperated soap loyalists.

Behind the outrage lies a deeper fear: that soaps are slowly being deprioritised in favour of big-ticket sports events. While ITV insists the changes are temporary and driven by live broadcasting commitments, fans can’t help but feel that Emmerdale and Coronation Street—once untouchable pillars of the schedule—are becoming expendable.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Both soaps are currently juggling major storylines, character arcs, and long-term plots designed to unfold over weeks, not gaps. Sudden interruptions risk breaking narrative momentum, dulling emotional impact, and alienating viewers who invest deeply in these characters’ lives.

For Emmerdale, ongoing tensions in the village and simmering family conflicts rely heavily on consistent pacing. Meanwhile, Coronation Street’s strength has always been its ability to balance hard-hitting drama with quiet, character-driven moments—something that suffers when episodes vanish without warning.

Industry insiders note that while sport reliably delivers strong ratings, soaps offer long-term loyalty and cultural legacy. Undermining that relationship, they warn, could have lasting consequences.

For now, ITV has not indicated whether similar disruptions will continue throughout the year, but fans are bracing themselves. The fear is that this shake-up is not an exception, but a preview of a future where soaps are increasingly sidelined.

As viewers wait to see whether the broadcaster responds to the backlash, one thing is clear: the anger is real, the disappointment runs deep, and patience is wearing thin. For audiences who have followed these shows for decades—through cast changes, dramatic exits, and even pandemic disruptions—this latest move feels less like a scheduling tweak and more like a betrayal.