ITV Soaps Pulled For EFL Cup As Fans Wait

Soap fans across the UK found themselves reaching for the remote on Tuesday evening, only to discover their favorite dramas missing from the usual ITV lineup. For those accustomed to the nightly ritual of tuning in to Coronation Street and Emmerdale, the absence was more than a minor blip—it was a shake-up that left many wondering what happened to the much-anticipated 'soap power hour.'

The disruption, as reported by NationalWorld, was due to ITV's live broadcast of the EFL Cup semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Chelsea, which kicked off at 8pm with coverage starting from 7.30pm. This high-stakes football match took over the coveted 8-9pm slot usually reserved for the soaps, meaning there was no space in the schedule for new episodes of either Coronation Street or Emmerdale on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

But it wasn't just the televised episodes that were affected. The early release episodes—typically available from 7am on ITVX, STV Player, and YouTube—were also pulled for the day. According to NationalWorld, this move left fans unable to get their early fix of drama from Weatherfield or the Dales, a significant change for viewers who have come to rely on these platforms for their daily dose of soap intrigue.

This schedule shake-up comes only a few weeks after ITV launched its brand new 'soap power hour,' a bold programming move designed to streamline the viewing experience. As detailed by Manchester Evening News, the new arrangement started in January 2026, with Emmerdale airing at 8pm followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm, Monday through Friday. The idea was to create a nightly hour of soap entertainment, with each episode running for a digestible 30 minutes.

Iain MacLeod, ITV's Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, explained the rationale behind the change: "If you're trying to fit an episode of soap into your day, if you work from home, or you work part time, or maybe you want to watch your soap in the evening, it's much easier to do that if it's a half hour transmission, rather than an hour long transmission. So, it's way more digestible. It's the right length of soap, in my humble opinion, it's what soap started as."

MacLeod went on to add, "And yeah, I think it definitely will be easier for people now, especially as they move more towards ITVX, to pick up a half hour of Corrie or a half hour of Emmerdale and fit it in before they're due to come and collect their kid from school, fit in on their lunch hour if they're working from home, or watch it on the tram into work if they want to on their phone. So, yeah, the effort we're making is to try and align what we're offering with how people consume TV these days."

Despite the new schedule's intent to make viewing more convenient, live sports events like the EFL Cup can still throw a wrench into the works. As Shields Gazette reported, both soaps were forced to take a night off due to the extensive coverage of the football match, which ran from 7.30pm until 10.25pm. This left the usual 'soap power hour' slot empty, causing a ripple of disappointment among fans who had settled in with their evening brew, ready for the latest drama from Weatherfield and Emmerdale.

So, when can viewers expect their favorite soaps to return? The good news is that the disruption is only temporary. Both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are set to return to their regular slots on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Emmerdale will air at 8pm, immediately followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm, with the same schedule continuing on Thursday and Friday. Early release episodes will also resume on streaming platforms from 7am on Wednesday, so fans won't have to wait long to catch up on the latest twists and turns.

The temporary absence of the soaps has only heightened anticipation for the upcoming storylines. In Emmerdale, viewers are on the edge of their seats as Moira faces mounting pressure after being charged with the murders of Celia Daniels and Anya Berisha. According to NationalWorld, Moira is not the real culprit—Anya died after falling ill while being forced to work on Celia's farm, and Celia was actually killed by her son Ray, who has also since been found dead. Moira's recent discovery of Celia's plan to frame her has added a fresh layer of suspense, leaving fans eager to see if she can clear her name before it's too late. The preview for the next episode teases, "Cain is feeling nervous and is consumed by intrusive thoughts, while Moira makes a call," promising more emotional turmoil ahead.

Over in Coronation Street, the drama is just as intense. Theo's grip on Todd has tightened, with Todd now financially dependent on his controlling partner. After revealing his crippling credit card debt, Todd has been coerced into opening a joint account with Theo, who has already chastised him for his spending and cut up his credit card under the guise of financial responsibility. NationalWorld notes that upcoming episodes will see Todd drifting further away from any sense of autonomy, as Theo continues to withhold cash and exert control over every aspect of his life. It's a storyline that resonates with viewers, shining a light on the realities of financial abuse and coercive control within relationships.

While the temporary removal of Coronation Street and Emmerdale from the schedule was an unwelcome surprise for many, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balancing act broadcasters must perform between live events and regular programming. ITV's commitment to adapting its soap schedules to better fit modern viewing habits is clear, but as this week's disruption shows, even the best-laid plans can be upended by the unpredictability of live sports.

For now, soap fans can take solace in knowing their favorite characters will soon be back on screen, ready to deliver more of the drama, intrigue, and emotional highs and lows that have made Coronation Street and Emmerdale enduring staples of British television. With new episodes just around the corner, the cobbles and the Dales are set to come alive once more, promising plenty of surprises in store.