ITV’s soap ‘power hour’ is ‘powered down’ tonight, with both Coronation Street and Emmerdale dropped from the schedules – but those looking to blame football might want to think again!
No, a sporting event isn’t to blame for this cancellation, instead, ITV will be airing The Pride of Britain Awards 2026 tonight, Thursday, October 22.
The ceremony will be presented by both Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo and air from 8pm until 10:05pm.
You don’t have to worry though, soap fans! You’re not being short changed.
Emmerdale will be back on screens on Friday, October 23 at its usual time of 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm.
To make up for the missing dose of soap, both shows will also air an episode on Sunday, October 25 at a slightly later time of 9pm and 9:30.
What’s happening in Coronation Street?
Friday’s visit to Coronation Street sees Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) continue to spiral after her difficulties with husband Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) and beef with unwelcome blast from her prison past, Paula (Kelli Hollis).
Wounded by Ronnie’s reluctance to be intimate with her, and with her work life suffering due to her symptoms, Debbie makes a play for a stranger in the hotel, flirting up a storm in full view of Ronnie himself.
Elsewhere, toxic Ross Wilkes’ (Ian Burfield) continues to make life difficult for Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine).
She confronts him for sabotaging a recent family film night by confiscating Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) phone and getting him wasted.
Sunday sees Paula continue to mess with Debbie, approaching her under the guise of making amends, though she has a much darker motivation.
When Paula overhears Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) detailing his wedding proposal plans with Debbie, she uses the information to gain access to the room he’s planning to use.
As the proposal goes awry due to the missing ring, Adam turns his anger toward Debbie, who soon realises the mistake that she’s made.
Bethany Platt’s (Lucy Fallon) pregnancy secret is exposed when recent love interest, Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott), calls by to help her, finding her pallid and sickly and later discovering folic acid tablets in her bag.
What’s happening in Emmerdale?
Friday’s trip to the Yorkshire Dales sees Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) continue struggling with the prospect of Tom King’s (James Chase) impending freedom.
Despite boyfriend Kammy Hadiq’s (Shebz Miah) awkward declaration of love, she’s left overwhelmed and flees the scene.
A vengeful DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge) keeps tabs on Kim Tate (Claire King), and finally gains access to her phone and downloads message records ahead of digging further into what’s going on.
Meanwhile, Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) rebuffs Gabby Thomas’ (Rosie Bentham olive branch, Liam Cavanagh’s (Jonny McPherson) acting shifty and Sadie King (Patsy Kensit) continues to mess with Caleb and Ruby Miligan (William Ash and Beth Cordingly).
Liam returns home to face the wrath of Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) who believes he’s spent the night having it away with Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker), though she’s quickly cowed when she learns they’ve actually been at a murder mystery night, and she’s further hurt when Liam blunders his explanation as to why she was excluded.
Sadie’s cruel game continues next week, when she capitalises on Caleb’s concern for Ruby’s alcohol intake, promising him that she’ll watch over his wife before dragging her off to the pub and trying to convince Ruby that Caleb is a control freak.
Sadie’s plot pays dividends as she engineers a fierce clash between Ruby and Manpreet, before playing both sides of the fence; lying to Caleb that she’s trying to curtail Ruby’s drinking while playing the doting best friend to Ruby’s face.
Meanwhile, Kim is forced to turn to Thea for help when baby Tate is kidnapped, and she tries her hardest to keep the catastrophe a secret from Joe.