ITV is reportedly preparing significant cast reductions for its two long-running soap operas, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as part of a sweeping cost-cutting strategy. The network is aiming to slash £15 million from its programming budget following a dramatic 44% drop in pre-tax profits, which fell to £99 million in the first half of 2025.
The financial pressures have led executives to target both soaps, which are among ITV’s most expensive productions. According to insiders, approximately 10 percent of the main cast for each show will be let go. With around 84 regular cast members on Coronation Street and 70 on Emmerdale, the cuts could see over a dozen actors losing their roles.
In addition to reducing cast numbers, ITV is reportedly instructing producers to restructure episodes by reducing the number of scenes and tightening shooting schedules. The aim is to streamline production and lower filming costs without drastically altering storylines—although fewer sets, extras, and secondary characters may be visible on screen going forward.
This shake-up follows a broader wave of restructuring across ITV’s programming division. Daytime shows such as Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women have already seen significant job losses and reshuffling behind the scenes. The soaps now appear to be next in line for similar belt-tightening.
Sources close to the production have described growing concern among long-serving actors, particularly those who rely on the soaps for stable income. Many are employed under per-episode contracts that guarantee a certain number of appearances per year—a system that is now being described as increasingly unsustainable.
The planned changes go beyond just cast reductions. Some industry insiders say there’s a push to limit high-cost action scenes in favor of dialogue-heavy sequences, which are cheaper to film. Others suggest that if cuts continue, ITV may eventually merge the production infrastructure of both shows under a single creative leadership team. This speculation has gained traction since Iain MacLeod, the current executive producer of Coronation Street, was placed in charge of Emmerdale following the retirement of the network’s head of continuing drama.
Viewers have already started to notice changes. Fan-favorite locations like Audrey’s salon on Coronation Street have appeared less frequently on screen, and some community venues have quietly disappeared. These signs have only fueled speculation that ITV is scaling back visual complexity in the shows.
Beyond the soaps, ITV has confirmed it will also be reducing the number of weekly episodes. Both Emmerdale and Coronation Street will drop from six episodes per week to five starting in January 2026. This change is expected to result in up to 75 behind-the-scenes job losses, including in directing, editing, set design, and costume departments.
Although ITV has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the cast cuts, multiple sources suggest that the plans are already underway, with several actors either departing or preparing for final scenes. These include names such as Colson Smith, Sue Cleaver, Shelley King, and Sue Devaney from Coronation Street, and Susan Cookson from Emmerdale.
The decision to scale down operations for two of Britain’s most iconic soaps reflects a larger trend in UK television, where commercial broadcasters are facing increasing pressure from declining ad revenues, rising production costs, and the growth of on-demand platforms. ITV’s push to slim down these legacy programs is being closely watched by media analysts and viewers alike.
While cost-saving is the primary motivation, the long-term impact on storytelling, character development, and audience engagement remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are entering a new era—one where efficiency, not expansion, is the priority.
