Emmerdale and Coronation Street schedules face cut backs

ITV boss Kevin Lygo said the change is "viewer-led" and will make the soaps more "streaming-friendly".

Performing arts union Equity said the move, which comes after the cancellation of BBC soap Doctors and changes to Channel 4's Hollyoaks schedule, gives it "further cause for concern", but added that ITV has said it "will not directly impact the cast or result in changes to pay or contracts".

Lygo added: "In a world where there is so much competition for viewers' time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, 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.

He acknowledged that going from the current six hours a week to five will "have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team".

"We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people," he said.

"These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term.

"They also create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very, very competitive market."

Emmerdale and Coronation Street have gone through several schedule changes over the years. Both began with only two episodes a week before increasing to six weekly episodes in later years.