Soap fans face summer of chaos as Euro 2024 forces schedule shake-up for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale
BIG changes are ahead in 2024 as both ITV and the BBC have revealed their plans for the UEFA European Championship.
Soaps in the likes of Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders will be heavily impacted. Here’s what you need to know.
ITV and BBC One viewers have grown increasingly and frustratingly accustomed to changes in their soap schedules, which have often been caused by sports events in the likes of the Women’s International Friendlies.
And with a new year just a handful of weeks away, both broadcasters are gearing up for another long-anticipated tournament – the UEFA European Championship.
As announced by ITV and the BBC this Thursday (December 7, 2023), the Euro 2024 tournament is due to trigger a series of changes to their TV schedule from the get-go
Luckily for them, the channels have given viewers several months to prepare themselves for some shake-ups next summer.
The Euro 2024 tournament is set to kick off on Friday, June 14, 2024, on ITV at 8pm with exclusive live coverage of the opening match between hosts Germany and Scotland in Munich.
Unfortunately, this would mean that Manchester-based program Coronation Street will have to give up its regular time slot.
Over the weeks in June, 2024, ITV will be airing some of the most anticipated early Euro games.
Its Group stage coverage will even include games featuring favourites like France, due to play against Austria on June 17, Portugal, set for a match against Turkey on June 22, Croatia and Belgium.
While some matches will be airing in the afternoon, it’s very likely Corrie fans may have to adjust to several changes in their schedule in June due to many other games being aired at 8pm.
This could also mean potential shake-ups for rival ITV soap Emmerdale, which is usually aired half an hour prior to Coronation Street on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.
Meanwhile, the BBC will also show some crucial games for both England and Scotland in mid-June but it will also have first choice of the Quarter-finals.
Should Wales qualify from the playoffs, the BBC will also air their own group games against the Netherlands and France, meaning EastEnders viewers will also need to adapt to some changes.
The long-running drama has aired from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm every week since 2022.
But with most games airing at 8pm, the BBC may be tempted to push the soap into another time slot on BBC One in order to allow an extensive coverage of the Euro 2024.
While this all remains to be confirmed, the tournament will slowly draw to a close on Wednesday, June 26, with a match aired on ITV at 8pm, thus forcing Coronation Street to be aired at another time once again.
The Euro 2024 is set to officially end after a month on July 14, 2024.
While many may have to choose between their love of drama and their passion for footy, ITV has confirmed that all games will also be shown on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Footy fans have been waiting since 2021 for another edition of the European Championship, which was previously won by Italy after being postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
How will ITV and BBC manage to keep soap fans happy next year?