The world of British soaps is set for an unprecedented television event as Coronation Street and Emmerdale merge for a one-night special. Dubbed 'Corriedale', this hour-long spectacle will air on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 8pm on ITV, following the regular episodes of both iconic shows.
A Historic Meeting of Soap Legends
At the heart of this ambitious crossover is a scene of quiet significance, featuring two of television's most enduring characters. William Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode in 1960, shares the screen with Chris Chittell, the actor behind Emmerdale's loveable rogue Eric Pollard since 1986.
While the special promises high-octane drama with explosions, car crashes, and fatalities, director Duncan Foster has revealed that this simpler interaction between the two veteran actors was his personal highlight. He was so determined to honour the moment that he rejected the first edit of the scene.
'The first cut I saw of the scene, it'd been edited quite tightly, and I said, "No, no, no, no, we can't do that. This is Eric Pollard and Ken Barlow in a scene. This is such an iconic moment. We have to give it every single second of television that we can give it,"' Foster explained to Metro and other publications at the Corriedale premiere.
An Unforgettable Behind-the-Scenenes Moment
The significance of the scene was felt just as powerfully off-camera. Foster, who has known William Roache for over a quarter of a century, shared a deeply personal anecdote from the set that underscored the actor's emotional connection to the project.
'He came onto set, he was a little bit emotional, he gave me the biggest hug, and, as he was hugging me, I was thinking, "you've never hugged me before in 25 years, Bill,"' Foster recalled. 'He was just so thrilled to be in that one scene, and that is one of my favourite scenes.'
This rare display of emotion from the world's longest-serving soap star highlights the unique importance of the Corriedale crossover, a landmark event in UK broadcasting history.
The Full Cast of the Corriedale Spectacular
The special boasts an extensive cast from both soaps, bringing together beloved characters from Weatherfield and the Dales. Key cast members from Coronation Street include Sally Carman-Duttine as Abi Webster, Alison King as Carla Connor, and Jack P. Shepherd as David Platt.
From Emmerdale, viewers can expect to see Danny Miller as Aaron Dingle, Emma Atkins as Charity Dingle, and Lucy Pargeter as Chas Dingle, among many others. The full, confirmed list of participants is as follows:
Coronation Street Cast: Sally Carman-Duttine (Abi Webster), Tanisha Gorey (Asha Alahan), Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew), Alison King (Carla Connor), Claire Sweeney (Cassie Plummer), Jack P Shepherd (David Platt), William Roache (Ken Barlow), Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster), Tina O'Brien (Sarah Platt), Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald), Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), and many more.
Emmerdale Cast: Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle), Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle), Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle), Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle), Christopher Chittell (Eric Pollard), Christopher Bisson (Jai Sharma), Natalie J Robb (Moira Dingle), and Isabel Hodgins (Victoria Sugden).
This unique collaboration promises to be a must-watch event for soap fans, blending the distinct flavours of Britain's two most popular serial dramas into a single, history-making night of television.
