ITV unveils new drama line-up
ITV has unveiled its new Thursday night drama line-up, which will see Coronation Street move from its Wednesday night slot after nearly 50 years.
Coronation Street, which has been broadcast on ITV1 on Wednesday evenings since it launched in December 1960, will move to Thursday night as part of the channel’s major overhaul of its popular drama schedule, according to reports.
ITV wants to turn Thursday night into a run of its flagship ITV1 dramas, with two back-to-back episodes of Emmerdale, one trip to Coronation Street and The Bill in its new 9pm peak-slot.
The reshuffle will also see Emmerdale‘s hour-long Tuesday episode cut in half, so it will no longer compete with BBC One’s rival soap Eastenders, while The Bill, which has been reduced from two episodes a week to one, will get a revamp to make it edgier for its new post-watershed slot.
ITV’s changes will hit our screens on the week commencing July 20, making way for live Uefa Champions League action, which will kick-start in August.
The commercial broadcaster’s new football contract will see it broadcast its pick of Wednesday evening matches rather than Tuesday fixtures, as well as live coverage of England Internationals and FA Cup replays.
An ITV spokesman said: “Coronation Street will make a move from Wednesday to Thursday nights on ITV1 from 23 July as part of a change to the schedule to reflect ITV’s contracts for the Champions League, FA Cup and England internationals, which will see ITV1’s live football broadcast on Wednesday evenings.
“In addition, two separate episodes of Emmerdale will be broadcast on Thursdays from the same date. We’re delighted that Thursday evenings on ITV1 will be a great showcase for soap from Weatherfield and the Woolpack.”
The new-look ITV1 schedule:
Tuesday 7 July/Tuesday 21 July –
7pm: Emmerdale/Emmerdale 7.30pm: Emmerdale/You’ve Been Framed! (usually factual series) 8pm: Homes From Hell/Send in the Dogs (usually factual series or entertainment) 9pm: Ladette to Lady/Car Crime UK (usually factual, entertainment or drama)
Wednesday 8 July/Wednesday 22 July –
7pm: Emmerdale/Emmerdale 7.30pm: Coronation Street v Grime Fighters or football 8pm: The Bill/new Midsomer Murders or football or drama/movie/factual 9pm: Trial and Retribution/new Midsomer Murders
Thursday 9 July/Thursday 23 July –
7pm: Emmerdale/Emmerdale 7.30pm: Countrywise/Countrywise 8pm: The Bill/Emmerdale 8.30pm: The Bill/Coronation Street 9pm: Trial and Retribution/The Bill