Fans of British soap operas received disappointing news regarding future crossovers as **Iain MacLeod**, the boss of both **Coronation Street** and **Emmerdale**, confirmed there are no plans for another collaboration after the recent **Corriedale** event. This announcement comes in the wake of the groundbreaking crossover that aired on **January 5, 2024**, marking a significant moment in television history.
The **Corriedale** crossover brought together the worlds of **Coronation Street** and **Emmerdale**, featuring intense drama and shocking plot twists that captivated audiences. However, MacLeod expressed reservations about the feasibility of such events becoming a regular occurrence. He emphasized that while the crossover was a unique celebration of both shows, the inherent differences in tone and storytelling make long-term collaboration unlikely.
In an interview with **The Mirror**, MacLeod stated, “People love **Corrie** and people love **Emmerdale** and their distinct entities. They have their own tone of voice and their own sense of humour and their way of telling stories, and they wouldn’t blend long-term at all.” He further clarified that there are currently no plans for similar crossovers in the future, adding, “Sorry to be the killjoy, those of you who were hoping there was [more].”
The January crossover was part of a new scheduling initiative dubbed “the power hour,” designed to enhance viewer engagement. As part of this strategy, **Coronation Street** will now air five days a week in 30-minute episodes, while **Emmerdale** will reduce its Thursday episodes from an hour to 30 minutes. MacLeod noted that this change reflects evolving viewing habits, particularly the rise of streaming platforms like **ITVX**.
“What we’re discovering is more and more people are watching on **ITVX**, and that’s upticked remarkably since we started making the episodes available from 07:00 on the day of transmission,” MacLeod explained. He believes that the shorter episode format will make it easier for viewers to incorporate the shows into their daily routines, stating, “It’s way more digestible… this is what soap started as, and yeah I think it definitely will be easier for people now.”
The name **Corriedale** itself was a topic of discussion during the planning stages of the crossover. MacLeod shared that after much deliberation, they chose the obvious option because it resonated with fans. “Corriedale was the logical choice, I think, and it works. I love the logo. I might have that printed on a t-shirt or something, just so it stays with me forever because it looks great and it’s a soap first,” he remarked.
As the storyline continues to unfold in **Emmerdale**, fans can catch new episodes weeknights at 20:00 on **ITV1** and **ITVX**, with **Coronation Street** following at 20:30. While the **Corriedale** event may be a one-off, the excitement surrounding both series remains strong as they adapt to changing viewer preferences.
