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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rose Hill

Soap battle begins this week as Emmerdale clashes with EastEnders in schedule change

The battle is on for EastEnders and Emmerdale this week as the new soap schedule goes into effect.

From Monday 7th March, Emmerdale will be shifting from its usual 7pm slot to 7.30pm - putting it in direct competition with EastEnders, which is airing at the same time on BBC One.

Meanwhile, Coronation Street will be moving to 8pm for an uninterrupted hour-long episode on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Emmerdale and EastEnders will be airing the same time for four weekdays, with the ITV soap airing an hour-long episode on Thursdays.

However, EastEnders won't be airing on Fridays after adding an extra episode on Wednesdays.

Emmerdale will clash with EastEnders this week (ITV)

Opening up about the schedule switch-up, John Whiston, ITV's Managing Director of Continuing Drama said: "With Coronation Street bursting at the seams with fantastic story and character, the new format gives the show a brilliant new canvas on which to shine.

"And Emmerdale will do what it does best in this new time slot where viewers can continue to enjoy the dramatic goings on in the Dales."

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo added: "The nation’s two most popular continuing dramas, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, are fundamental to the success of ITV, and we know that, as with all dramas, viewers increasingly watch them whenever, and however they choose.

"The new scheduling means that viewers can watch them live on TV in one go in a continuous soap fix, as well as on ITV Hub where they are regularly in the most watched shows every month."

Gray's murders will finally be exposed (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Some viewers have feared the change could 'kill off' EastEnders, which is currently in a ratings slump, and are pleading with BBC bosses to switch its time.

This isn't the first time that that the soaps have challenged one another by changing their time slots.

Back in 1985, EastEnders tried to take down Emmerdale when it first launched.

*Emmerdale and EastEnders air 7.30pm next week on ITV and BBC One

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