The ongoing World Cup tournament continues to disrupt the regular scheduling of ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as BBC's EastEnders, which is also affected by Wimbledon coverage. The football tournament, which began on June 11, will air on ITV until July 19, causing significant changes to the usual broadcast times.
New scheduling pattern disrupted
Just months after Coronation Street and Emmerdale adopted a new 'soap power hour' schedule—featuring half-hour episodes back-to-back nightly instead of three hour-long episodes for Corrie and a weekly hour-long for Emmerdale—the World Cup has thrown these plans into disarray. The constant shifts have left viewers confused about when to tune in.
Coronation Street schedule for this week
Monday, July 6: 8:30pm (hour-long episode)
Tuesday, July 7: No episode
Wednesday, July 8: 8:30pm
Thursday, July 9: No episode
Friday, July 10: 9:00pm (hour-long episode)
Coronation Street airs an hour-long episode tonight (July 6), with no episode on Tuesday. It returns on Wednesday for a half-hour instalment, followed by another break on Thursday. Friday features an hour-long episode at the later time of 9:00pm. This week's storylines include Abi Webster rushing her son Alfie to hospital after breathing difficulties, and Tyrone Dobbs meeting his biological father, which shocks Cassie Plummer.
Emmerdale schedule for this week
Monday, July 6: 7:30pm (hour-long episode)
Tuesday, July 7: No episode
Wednesday, July 8: 8:00pm
Thursday, July 9: No episode
Friday, July 10: 8:00pm (hour-long episode)
Emmerdale follows a similar pattern, with an hour-long episode on Monday, no episode Tuesday, a half-hour episode Wednesday, no episode Thursday, and an hour-long episode Friday. This week, Kev Townsend continues pursuing a relationship with his son Lewis Barton, but a robbery complicates matters. Cain Dingle battles prostate cancer while clashing with his son Kyle.
EastEnders schedule for this week
Monday, July 6: 7:30pm on BBC One
Tuesday, July 7: 7:30pm on BBC Two
Wednesday, July 8: 7:30pm on BBC Two
Thursday, July 9: 7:30pm on BBC Two
Friday, July 10: No episode
EastEnders airs as normal on Monday, but Tuesday through Thursday episodes move to BBC Two due to Wimbledon coverage. The week sees the climax of Bea Pollard's manipulation of the Mitchell family, leading to a showdown with Billy and Honey. Cindy Beale remains suspicious of fiancé Max Branning as his affair with Priya Nandra-Hart continues.
All episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale are available on ITVX and YouTube from 7am on the day of airing. EastEnders episodes can be streamed on BBC iPlayer from 7am on their scheduled air dates.
