Fans of the beloved ITV soap, Coronation Street, are facing disappointment this Friday evening as the show will not air during its usual 8 PM slot. Instead, viewers will have to turn their attention elsewhere due to live sports coverage taking over the schedule.
The shift is largely due to the much-anticipated opening of the Six Nations rugby championship, which will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX starting at 7:30 PM. France will face Wales starting at 8:15 PM, prompting the reshuffling of regular programming, which means Coronation Street will be absent from screens.
Normally, the iconic soap routinely airs on Fridays from 8 PM to 9 PM, exciting fans with its weekly drama. Tonight's absence has left many viewers disgruntled, taking to social media to share their frustrations. One user expressed their dismay, tweeting, "it’s Friday and we don’t have corrie today... I need it back already #Corrie". Another viewer lamented, "I notice #Corrie is only on twice next week coz of the b***y rugby on Friday night". Their sentiments reflect the strong attachment many feel to the show as part of their weekly routine.
The scheduling shake-up has also resulted in Emmerdale moving to the earlier timeslot of 7 PM, deviated from its customary 7:30 PM airdate. This unexpected change is significant enough to spark conversations about where sports should air, with one viewer jokingly proposing, "Sport should be on ITV2 or ITV3!"
Despite tonight's disappointment, Coronation Street has exciting new plot developments to look forward to next week. The soap has teased fans with hints of major drama involving the Platt family. A synopsis from the Radio Times reveals some shocking events: "David contacts Andy to finalise their plan as Sarah celebrates her birthday at the bistro. Steve rejects Leanne's advances before Amy recounts her ordeal. Abi suffers a panic attack and lashes out at Toyah. When a fire takes hold at Number Eight, the Platts venture inside to search for Lily, but leave someone trapped by the flames." This suggests high-stakes drama awaits viewers next week.
The upcoming episodes are set to include alarming scenes where entire lives hang in the balance, with fires raging within the beloved neighborhood. Earlier reports indicate this inferno will be no mere accident—set to be revealed as arson, the tension will rise as characters scramble to prove their innocence to the police after the calamity. With pivotal characters possibly facing drastic outcomes, this arc is poised to grip fans even tighter as they speculate the fate of characters like David and Shona.
Mark your calendars because the Coronation Street schedule for next week is as follows: Monday, February 3 at 8 PM, Tuesday, February 4 at 8 PM, and Wednesday, February 5 at 8 PM. Notably, there will be no episode on Friday, February 7, due to coverage of the FA Cup football match between Manchester United and Leicester City. Viewers will have to stay tuned for thrilling twists and turns throughout these episodes.
Even with its temporary absence, Coronation Street* remains fresh on the minds of devoted fans as they await its return to screens. The growing tensions and upcoming plotlines promise to reignite excitement surrounding the soap once it is back. So until then, the fans will have to sit tight and keep their fingers crossed for their favorite drama to return to form. After all, with the stakes rising and surprises lurking right around the corner, it won’t be long until the residents of Weatherfield are back to captivating their faithful audience.