ITV have announced changes to their early evening line up.

ITV has announced today changes to bolster the key programmes in its pre-9pm schedule, from the evening national and international news and ITV’s soaps.

ITV is extending its commitment to national and international news and audiences across the UK with the announcement today that the evening news programme will be extended to an hour, with even more focus on reporting from outside of London feeding into the programme, to reflect the whole of the UK.

ITV’s soaps are to move into new schedule slots destined to build a strong block of continuing drama, with Coronation Street moving to hour-long episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm, and Emmerdale moving further into peak with a consistent 7.30pm slot.

Coronation Street is to move to three hour-long episodes, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm, and Emmerdale, which has a big year ahead celebrating its 50th birthday in 2022, will move to a 7.30pm slot.