ITV in major soap shake-up as Emmerdale is extended tonight in new timeslot ahead of special standalone April episode
The channel's news coverage will be halved as a result of the schedule change
EMMERDALE fans are set to be in for a treat with an extended helping of the soap tonight ahead of tomorrow’s special episode.
ITV has torn up its usual scheduling to bring Emmerdale forward into an earlier timeslot in order to air an hour-long episode.
The soap usually broadcasts for 30 minutes from 7:30pm with Thursday’s episodes airing for one hour.
However, in a rare move, the show will be airing an hour-long edition TONIGHT.
In order to accommodate the move, ITV is slashing its news coverage in half to air just a 30-minute edition of the ITV News at 6:30.
Emmerdale will then kick off at 7pm for an hour followed by the usual hour-long episode of Coronation Street.
In tonight’s episode, Marlon and Rhona will find themselves receiving some shocking news whilst Caleb is forced to deny Cain’s accusations in the wake of Anthony Fox’s murder.
Elsewhere, Kim will be seen growing increasingly suspicious of Joe Tate as he continues his stay at Home Farm.
Tonight’s extended episode comes just one day before the soap will broadcast a standalone show focusing on the tragic story of April Windsor.
Fans will remember April decided to run away in December and since then has faced life living on the streets.
Viewers will learn that April had nowhere to stay after she decided to leave home and found herself in all manner of terrifying situations as a teen alone on the street.
Commenting on the special episode, Emmerdale‘s producer Laura Shaw said: “April’s flashback episode is a heartbreaking depiction of life on the street as a teenage girl.
“Continuing to take guidance from the fabulous team at Missing People, it was incredibly important that we didn’t shy away from the agonising journey that April would go through and their help was invaluable in making sure the episode has the authenticity required.
“Amelia Flanagan’s outstanding performance makes this arguably, one of Emmerdale’s stand out episodes of this year and promises to start a new journey for the character of April, forever changed by her time living on the city streets.”
Harrowing images showcase a distressed and dirty looking April sobbing and hunched as she carries a large rucksack with her.
Another shot shows April surrounded by others on the street in a makeshift home as they sit around a kettle looking dishevelled.
Soap's most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle’s schizophrenia in Emmerdale – Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma’s voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth’s anorexia in Hollyoaks – Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah’s condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal in Coronation Street – Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean’s abuse from Tony in EastEnders – Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca’s boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.
