Coronation Street and Emmerdale are set to return to their old format as ITV confirmed a major schedule change.

It’s been a busy period for both of the beloved soaps, with things heating up ahead of the summer season. Over in Corrie, the Weatherfield residents are trying to figure out who killed Theo Silverton.

Viewers had to endure months of a difficult-to-watch domestic violence and coercive control storyline, which saw James Cartwright’s Theo subjecting his husband Todd, played by Gareth Pierce, to physical and mental abuse.

Theo lost his life back in April, with Betsy Swain discovering his body on the night of her mum Lisa Swain’s wedding to Carla Connor launching a whodunnit storyline. Among the subjects are George Shuttleworth, Christina Boyd, and Summer Spellman.

While recent weeks in Emmerdale have focused on Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle trying to get to the bottom of why multiple fires have been started across their beloved Emmerdale Farm ever since they took over ownership.

Last year saw both Corrie and Emmerdale go back to a shortened ‘power hour’ with half-hour episodes airing for each show, representing a one-hour reduction from their current combined duration. ITV said at the time that the move was made as ‘viewing habits continue to change’.

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo said: “We believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows

“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.”

However, with the World Cup just around the corner, it’s been confirmed that changes are coming to how the soaps air. ITV are set to air 51 premium live matches, including the first two matches of the tournament, two England peak time group matches and three of the top picks for the Quarter-Finals.

Corrie and Emmerdale will both air rare Sunday episodes on June 7, between 8pm and 9pm. This is due to there being no episodes on Friday, June 5, because of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier between Spain and England.

The soaps will also be off the air on Tuesday, June 9, as a result of England and Ukraine’s World Cup qualifying match being broadcast. Emmerdale will air at the earlier time of 7pm, followed by Corrie at 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 10.

Neither soap will air the following night due to the World Cup opening ceremony, which will feature Katie Perry and Michael Buble. The opening match of the tournament will see Mexico taking on South Africa.

The biggest change arrives on Friday, June 12, when Emmerdale will have an hour slot at 8pm. In a throwback to how the soaps used to run, Corrie will have an hour of its own at 9pm.