ITV is offering fans a unique chance to shape a landmark television event. For the first time, the worlds of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will collide in a standalone, hour-long special titled Corriedale. The drama centres on a devastating nighttime car crash that brings the residents of Weatherfield and the Dales together in explosive fashion.
How Fans Can Influence The Drama
In an innovative interactive move, viewers are being invited to vote for which cross-soap character pairing they want to see feature in the finished episode. ITV soap boss Iain MacLeod revealed the plan originated from fan discussions on social media.
"We'd choose four pairings that we like the sound of and that the viewers like the sound of," MacLeod explained. The production team then wrote and filmed a scene for each of the four potential duos. Starting in January, a free online poll will allow the audience to decide the winner.
Voting closes at 7:45pm on Monday, January 5, 2026, just fifteen minutes before the special is broadcast. MacLeod joked about the pressure, stating he will be "in the transmission suite on the night going: hopefully that's the right one. And I'm already feeling a little sweaty about that!".
The Four Contending Cross-Soap Pairings
The four potential pairings, each featuring one character from each iconic soap, promise dynamic and unlikely interactions.
Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) and Carla Connor (Alison King): This pairing brings together two formidable, morally flexible businesswomen. Charity is on the fateful road after agreeing to be a surrogate for Sarah Sugden, while Carla is embroiled in her own drama trying to win back ex Lisa Swain.
Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Ross Barton (Michael Parr): A meeting of two legendary villains. With a history that includes murder and affair, their encounter is anticipated to be more about charged looks than lengthy dialogue.
Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) and Roy Cropper (David Neilson): The battle of the cafés. Emmerdale's sharp-tongued Nicola of Café Main Street versus Coronation Street's gentle and nerdy Roy of Roy's Rolls. Fans are keen to see who makes the better brew.
Sam Dingle (James Hooton) and Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment): Described by actor James Hooton as "The meeting of two braincells," this duo represents the beloved, simple-hearted characters from each village. Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) has already endorsed their scene on Instagram.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
The special, written by Owen Lloyd Fox and directed by Duncan Foster, features a huge ensemble cast from both soaps. From Weatherfield, icons like Ken Barlow (William Roache), David Platt (Jack P Shepherd), and Carla Connor will appear. Emmerdale is represented by stalwarts including Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell), Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), and Charity Dingle.
The full confirmed cast list is extensive, ensuring that the collision of these two universes will have significant consequences for many characters.
To cast your vote, fans must visit the official Coronation Street & Emmerdale Instagram post on a mobile device and select their favourite pairing in the poll. This is a rare opportunity for soap lovers to directly influence a major broadcast event, making Corriedale a truly interactive television moment.
