Coronation Street, Emmerdale Crossover Unveils New Scaled-Back Broadcast Schedule

In a significant shift for British soap operas, the recent crossover event between Coronation Street and Emmerdale is part of a new strategy to rejuvenate viewer interest. This comes amid persistent declines in ratings for both shows, which have lost millions of viewers over the last decade.

Declining Viewership Trends

According to recent data, Coronation Street has averaged approximately 4.3 million viewers per episode, while Emmerdale has seen around 3.8 million viewers in 2025. Both programs have experienced a drop of nearly one-third in their audience over the past ten years.

New Broadcast Schedule

As part of the renewed effort to captivate audiences, the broadcast schedule for both shows will be adjusted. They will now air a total of five hours per week combined, down from six hours. In the past, these soaps increased their episode counts significantly, but the current strategy is to scale back for the first time.

Industry Insights

According to Carl Greenwood, the soaps editor at a well-known publication, the changes were necessary. “There was no way they could sustain the hours they were producing with the declining viewers,” he noted. Other popular soap operas like Hollyoaks and Casualty have also adjusted their episode totals, while shows such as Doctors and Neighbours have been completely canceled.

Future of Soap Operas

Despite these reductions, Greenwood remains optimistic about the future of soap operas. He states, “I don’t think we’re going to see soaps gone, but I don’t think we’re going to see as much of them going forward.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern within the industry about maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing television landscape.

• Coronation Street: 4.3 million viewers per episode (2025)
• Emmerdale: 3.8 million viewers per episode (2025)
• Viewership decline: Approximately one-third over the last 10 years
• New schedule: 5 hours per week combined for both shows
• Other impacted shows: Hollyoaks, Casualty (reduced episodes), Doctors and Neighbours (canceled)