Emmerdale and Eastenders fans all say the same thing as soaps face schedule shake-up

SOAP fans are struggling with the schedule shake-up that has seem Emmerdale move to a new time slot.

The popular rural drama has filled the 7pm slot for years, leading into Coronation Street at 7.30pm.

BBC

Soap fans are still mad that Emmerdale and Eastenders are on at the same time[/caption]

But earlier this month ITV began airing an extended hour-long News programme at 6.30pm, pushing Emmerdale back to 7.30pm and Corrie to 8pm.

As a result the BBC has moved EastEnders to a daily 7.30pm slot creating an almighty soap clash.

Viewers that love both Emmerdale and Eastenders have continued to slam the move as they can’t watch their favourite soaps live.

“WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO CHANGE THE SOAP TIMES?” tweeted one angry fan.

Another added: “#Emmerdale going to 7.30 interfering with #Eastenders followed by #coronationstreet for an hour isn’t working for me at all..Does #bbc3 do an omnibus ?”

And a third wrote: “I’m not feeling this new soap schedule.”

Emmerdale came out on top in the ratings stakes after its first clash with EastEnders.

It pulled in 4.2m viewers, while Enders was watched by 2.6m in the overnight figures.

However, it was Coronation Street that emerged triumphant in its 8pm hour-long slot with 4.4m tuning in.

It does not include people who catch-up on iPlayer or ITVPlayer.

In a further schedule change Corrie’s two episodes are being merged into one to create an hour-long episode every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The BBC in response moved EastEnders from its haphazard schedule to a firmer footing.

It used to air on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at varying times but that has all changed.

It is the first time the soap has aired on consecutive nights since it begin 37 years ago.

BBC bosses are banking on viewers being willing to watch the soap on iPlayer instead of live.

ITV

Emmerdale was moved forward half an hour and directly competes with the London-based soap[/caption]