EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale all forced off air tonight – here’s why and when the soaps return

Soap fans hoping to catch up with the latest drama in Walford, Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales will be disappointed tonight, as EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale are all missing from the TV schedules on Friday, November 13.

The three popular BBC and ITV soaps are taking an unexpected break from their usual evening slots, leaving viewers without their regular dose of television drama.

However, the schedule changes are not down to the programmes being cancelled. Instead, special BBC programming and live sporting events are taking priority across the two main channels.

With no new episodes of any of the three soaps tonight, viewers will understandably want to know why their favourite programmes are not on, whether there will be any weekend catch-up episodes and, most importantly, when they will return.

Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s soap schedule, including the reasons behind the changes and the confirmed return dates.

Why is EastEnders not on tonight?

EastEnders will not air on BBC One tonight, Friday, November 13, because the channel is broadcasting its annual Children in Need fundraising spectacular.

The special live programme begins at 7pm and continues until 10pm, taking over the entire evening slot usually occupied by BBC One’s regular entertainment and drama programming.

As a result, there is no room for a new episode of EastEnders in the schedule.

The BBC soap normally airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm, meaning Friday is not usually part of its regular weekly broadcast pattern. However, tonight’s Children in Need coverage means viewers will have to wait until the start of next week for the next instalment.

Unfortunately, there will not be an additional episode over the weekend to make up for the disruption.

When is EastEnders back on BBC One?

EastEnders will return on Monday, November 16, at 7.30pm on BBC One.

The soap is expected to follow its usual Monday-to-Thursday broadcast pattern next week, although viewers should also be aware of another scheduling change on Friday, November 20.

BBC One is due to show Owain Wyn Evans’s Four Nations Challenge for Children in Need that evening, meaning EastEnders will once again be absent from the Friday schedule.

New episodes can also be watched on BBC iPlayer.

Why are Coronation Street and Emmerdale not on tonight?

ITV viewers are also facing a soap-free evening, with both Coronation Street and Emmerdale missing from the Friday, November 13 schedule.

The reason is live rugby coverage, with ITV1 broadcasting the Nations Championship fixture between France and South Africa.

Coverage begins at 7.15pm, ahead of the 8.10pm kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris.

The sporting event is taking over the evening programming that would ordinarily feature ITV’s two biggest continuing dramas.

It is not the first time in recent months that football and rugby coverage have disrupted the ITV soap schedule, with sporting commitments regularly forcing changes to the broadcasters’ usual evening line-up.

Thursday’s schedule was also affected, with England’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia taking priority on ITV1.

The football coverage began at 7pm ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off at Wembley Stadium.

Consequently, Wednesday, November 11, was the last night of new Emmerdale and Coronation Street episodes this week.

There will be no extra Sunday episodes to compensate for the missing instalments, meaning fans will have to wait until Monday for their next visit to the Dales and Weatherfield.

When is Emmerdale back on ITV1?

Emmerdale will return on Monday, November 16, at 8pm on ITV1.

The Yorkshire-based soap is expected to resume its regular evening schedule after missing Thursday and Friday because of the live sporting coverage.

There will be plenty of drama waiting for viewers when the programme returns.

Samson Dingle’s legal problems continue to cause serious tension within the family, with his actions in prison having consequences for those closest to him.

Sam Dingle is increasingly frustrated with Cain and holds his brother responsible for the trouble Samson is facing. Matters escalate when the brothers find themselves embroiled in a heated confrontation.

Elsewhere, Belle Dingle is facing further uncertainty over Tom King’s possible release from prison. The prospect of her abusive ex-husband returning to her life leaves her with difficult decisions to make.

There is also trouble brewing for Caleb Miligan, who fears that his night of passion with Sadie King could soon be exposed.

With several major storylines developing, the return episode promises to pick up where Wednesday’s instalment left off.

When is Coronation Street back on ITV1?

Coronation Street will also return on Monday, November 16, at 8.30pm on ITV1, following Emmerdale.

The Weatherfield residents are facing another turbulent week, particularly the Platt family, as concerns surrounding the missing Jodie Ramsey continue to grow.

David and Shona Platt are left fearing the worst after police discover traces of Jodie’s blood in the boot of an abandoned car.

The discovery raises fresh questions about what has happened to her, with the family beginning to regret not taking a threatening phone call on Jodie’s mobile more seriously.

Shona is particularly devastated as she reflects on her relationship with her sister and wonders whether things could have been different.

Meanwhile, another family secret threatens to cause problems for Bethany Platt.

Shona begins to suspect that Kit Green could be the father of Bethany’s baby and warns her to keep the truth from her mother, Sarah.

Elsewhere, Amy Barlow finds herself embarking on a new chapter after landing a job at Street Cars.

The upcoming episodes will therefore bring plenty of developments for Weatherfield viewers to catch up on when the soap returns.

When are all three soaps back on TV? Full return schedule

For anyone wondering when they can next watch their favourite soap, the good news is that the break is relatively short.

Here are the expected return dates and times for all three programmes:

Soap	Channel	Next episode
EastEnders	BBC One	Monday, November 16, at 7.30pm
Emmerdale	ITV1	Monday, November 16, at 8pm
Coronation Street	ITV1	Monday, November 16, at 8.30pm

All three programmes are also available through their respective streaming services, BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Are there any soaps on TV tonight instead?

Although fans of EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale will have to find something else to watch, there is still plenty happening across the television schedules.

BBC One is dedicating the evening to Children in Need 2026, with the fundraising spectacular starting at 7pm.

Over on ITV1, viewers can watch France take on South Africa in the Nations Championship, with coverage beginning at 7.15pm.

Those looking for something different can also find Gogglebox on Channel 4 at 9pm, while The Graham Norton Show is scheduled to air on BBC One at 10.40pm, following Children in Need.

Will EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale be on this weekend?

Unfortunately, there are no additional weekend episodes planned to make up for the missing instalments.

EastEnders will not air on Saturday or Sunday, while Emmerdale and Coronation Street are also taking their usual weekend break.

Instead, viewers will have to wait until Monday, November 16, when all three programmes return to their respective channels.

There is also another scheduling change to look out for later in the month, as EastEnders is expected to miss Friday, November 20, due to further Children in Need programming.

For now, soap fans can look forward to a return to Walford, Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales at the beginning of next week.

So, if you’re searching for EastEnders, Coronation Street or Emmerdale tonight, Friday, November 13, none of the three will be airing. EastEnders returns Monday at 7.30pm, followed by Emmerdale at 8pm and Coronation Street at 8.30pm.

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