OPINION: This is the reason Emmerdale and Corrie ought to be axed.
OPINION: Emmerdale and Coronation Road are over (Picture: ITV)
It may very well be the beginning of the tip for soaps akin to Emmerdale and Coronation Road as ITV has made an enormous change, leaving devoted followers livid. The broadcasters have confirmed that there might be no British Cleaning soap Awards in 2026 – marking the second time that the ceremony has been axed since its inception in 1999.
A press release from the broadcasters learn: “The British Cleaning soap Awards is taking a break and received’t be on air in 2026.” It isn’t identified whether or not the occasion will go forward in 2027. As soon as an unmissable occasion, the annual bash celebrated small-screen favourites and gave the celebrities and crew members from the long-running soaps an opportunity to let their hair down. However this yr, plainly ITV have determined towards marking the achievements of the soaps. It follows a serious defeat by the BBC final yr as EastEnders took the title of Finest Cleaning soap in 2025, after an action-packed yr for its fortieth anniversary, leaving Corrie and Emmerdale in its mud.
Corriedale aired as a one-off particular in January (Picture: ITV/Mark Bruce/Shutterstock)
However is it any marvel that the soaps proceed to battle for his or her locations on primetime TV?
Earlier within the yr, Emmerdale and Coronation Road got here collectively for the primary time ever, in a one-off particular episode named “Corriedale” in a drastic bid to re-engage viewers with the reveals.
The producers had been clearly determined to win viewership again after each soaps noticed rankings decline by roughly one-third over the previous decade.
It did work out quickly, because the episode was an enormous rankings success, averaging 4.2 million viewers and peaking at 4.7 million – the best reside cleaning soap rankings in over a yr, exhibiting that there’s nonetheless some life within the previous canine but.
This transfer may additionally show to be a mistake financically although, because the soaps additionally generate vital curiosity on their YouTube web page, which drives numerous promoting income, with viewers now catching up there reasonably than watching reside on TV. They may have put the awards ceremony on YouTube, with backstage entry and interviews, and made followers really feel like they’re a part of the method. However, no. Followers have been left in uproar over the choice to cancel the awards once more, and rightly so, as a result of it does convey up the query: The place does ITV go from right here? Is that this the largest indication that they are now not excited by investing within the soaps?
ITV are taking place a harmful street, and if they do not resolve what their priorities are, and shortly, this may very well be the tip for soaps as we all know it.
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