Emmerdale schedule shake-up confirmed as ITV soap pulled off air

Emmerdale will be taken off air this week as ITV makes way for football coverage

Emmerdale’s schedule shake-up has been confirmed as the ITV soap is set to be pulled off air this week.

The programme, which usually graces our screens on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, will not be broadcast on Thursday, October 9.

Instead, ITV will be airing an international friendly football match between England and Wales, marking their first encounter since England’s 3-0 victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The match will take place at Wembley Stadium, kicking off at 7.45pm, with coverage spanning from 7pm to 10.05pm, followed by the ITV News at Ten until 10.35pm.

Emmerdale fans can look forward to its return the next night (Friday, October 10) with a 30-minute episode at 7.30pm, reports the Daily Star.

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However, the scheduling shake-up doesn’t end there, as the soap will face further changes on Tuesday, October 14.

Emmerdale will once again be pulled from the ITV schedule to make room for the FIFA World Cup Group K qualifier match between Latvia and England.

This match will kick off at 7.45pm at the Daugava Stadium in Riga, with live coverage running from 7pm to 10.05pm. Emmerdale will resume its regular broadcasting for the remainder of the week.

It’s been a whirlwind of events in the Dales recently, with villain John Sugden’s (Oliver Farnworth) crimes finally being exposed.

He notably dragged himself and his husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) off a cliff, before coercing Caleb Miligan (William Ash) into aiding his escape abroad.

Meanwhile, Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) and Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) have been working through some marital difficulties after Gabby discovered Vinny’s struggles with his sexuality. Vinny also learned about Gabby’s one-night stand in Portugal.

Another continuing plot centres around April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), who has been reluctantly dealing drugs for Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) in a bid to clear Dylan Penders’ (Fred Kettle) debt.

Last week, April’s double life fell apart when she abandoned her brother Leo Goskirk (Harvey Rogerson) to satisfy Ray’s requirements.

Whilst hurrying to exit the house, she inadvertently spilled pills from her bag. Her worst fears were then realised when she came back home to discover Leo being taken into an ambulance after consuming the pills.

A frantic April subsequently encountered local farmer Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), who was exposed as the brains behind the drugs operation, as well as Ray’s mother.

Celia cautioned April about the regulations and repercussions of revealing the truth to the authorities, threatening: “Maybe one day you’ll go missing again, only this time, they won’t find you. Not all of you anyway.”

This week, April moved in with her grandfather Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) after her step-mum Rhona (Zoe Henry) requested some space.

Celia appeared satisfied with this turn of events, telling Ray: “That grandad Bob could be a useful link to exploit a bit more… We can work with this.” What is Celia plotting?

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX