ITV has announced that Coronation Street will move to hour-long episodes and Emmerdale will change its transmission time from March 2022 as part of a schedule shake-up involving the network's news and soaps.
Under the plan, ITV is extending its national and international evening news bulletin to an hour-long programme from March 2022, running from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
The changes, which ITV has said are to "bolster the key programmes in its pre-9pm schedule", will also see the broadcaster's flagship soap Coronation Street moving to hour-long episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:00pm while Emmerdale will move to a 7:30pm slot on weeknights.
ITV's Managing Director of Continuing Drama, John Whiston, said that with Coronation Street "bursting at the seams with fantastic story and character, the new format gives the show a brilliant new canvas on which to shine".
He added: "And Emmerdale will do what it does best in this new time slot where viewers can continue to enjoy the dramatic goings-on in the Dales."
Source: Press Association
