Tonight, ITV will host perhaps the most eagerly anticipated soap crossover perhaps ever, and most definitely since last year’s Brookside/Hollyoaks collaboration took to the screen over at Channel 4.
The producers have been tight-lipped about plot details so far, although we do know that there will be a massive car pile up involving much-loved characters from the rival Manchester and Yorkshire-set soaps, with The Sun reporting that producers have confirmed at least two characters will die in the chaos.
Producers have described the episode as a “catastrophic, life-changing one-hour special”, with characters from both shows put in mortal danger by the dramatic multi-car pile up.
The paper adds that Corriedale will begin with Debbie Webster’s dramatic wedding to Ronnie, where a desperate, drink-fuelled Carl speeds away with Debbie in the car.
Simultaneously, Becky, fleeing her past with Lisa and Betsy, loses control of her vehicle, triggering a multi-car pile-up on a stormy road between Hotton and Weatherfield.
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Over at the Metro, soaps editor Duncan Lindsey promises villains, impressive stunts, and a “gobsmacking twist,” as well as lending further credence to reports of multiple character deaths:
Over on the Corrie Twitter page, the series producers have been relentless plugging the big event over the holidays, last night wheeling out the show’s stars, including a bloodied Claire Sweeney (Cassandra Plummer) to whet our appetites for tonight’s big event:
It’s a big night all round for soap fans on ITV this evening. The day’s regular episodes of Emmerdale (7-7.30pm) and Coronation Street (7.30-8pm) will precede the big Corriedale debut at 8pm, with the hour-long special followed by a behind-the-scenes special Corriedale: Backstage Pass show at 9pm.
Following tonight’s big blow out, both soaps will return to their regular slots in ITV’s new 2026 screening schedule, with half-hour episodes of Corrie at 8pm followed by a half-hour instalment of Emmerdale in the 8.30-9pm slot every weekday as part of ITV’s new “power hour” schedule.
The crossover episode was first announced last spring, with bosses confirming that production had got underway in October.
