Coronation Street and Emmerdale off air again tomorrow as usual ITV schedule disrupted

It'll be no surprise to soap fans that sports coverage is about to disrupt scheduled editions of Coronation Street and Emmerdale once again this week.

Since January, the serial dramas have aired in what broadcaster ITV dubs a "power hour". Each weekday evening at 8pm, fans can get their fix of drama. This new time slot was introduced to provide consistency and to help navigate the disruption that the footy causes every few months.

However, since then, both serial dramas have been repeatedly moved to accommodate other programmes. Research from the Conversation Street Podcast that was shared on X last week reported that 19 out of (then) 39 weeks of the year had been effected.

This week will sadly see them off air tomorrow (6 October), because of the UEFA Nations League Live. Czechia will play England, with kick-off at 7:45pm.

Mark Pougatch presents all the action from the fourth Group A3 match for both teams, held at Wembley Stadium.

Soap viewers will undoubtedly be wondering when they can tune into their next slice of Weatherfield or Dales action. Luckily, there isn't long to wait – and there's an added bonus this week.

Emmerdale returns Wednesday 7 October at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm.

Episodes continue on Thursday, Friday and Sunday this week.

In the next Dales instalment, Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) is stunned by the news that she's about to be released from prison. Her clan gather to meet her, but Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) is noticeably absent.

Will they be able to make amends?

Meanwhile, Sadie King (Patsy Kensit) is on a mission to listen to the late Jimmy King's (Nick Miles) voice notes, but is caught in the act by a suspicious Rodney Blackstock (Patrick Mower).

Across the Pennines on the cobbles, Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) mistakenly accuses stepdaughter Lily (Grace Ashcroft-Gardner) of orchestrating the fake baby Harper recordings hoax. It all kicks off in the Bistro, with Lily insisting that she had no involvement.

As viewers know, it was cruel Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances Brown).

Elsewhere, George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) is thrown into a panic when he discovers Rachel Parkinson's ashes have gone missing, and tracks them down to the precinct – where Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) is tearfully cradling them.

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 8pm and Coronation Street usually airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1. Both can be streamed from 7am that day on ITVX.

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Authors

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.