EastEnders bosses have responded to the schedule shake-up for the hit ITV soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
In January, ITV confirmed that it would be moving the two hit soaps to a new air time that would conflict with the beloved BBC series.
The ITV soaps are moving their scheduled times so Emmerdale will now air at 7.30pm every day, rather than 7pm. While Coronation Street will now be hour long episodes at 8pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The shift is to allow an extra half an hour to the news on ITV. Yet, it means that the episodes will constantly clash throughout the week with EastEnders as they air between 7.30pm and 9pm.
Some fans of the hit ITV soaps have suggested that this new change could be the end of EastEnders – especially with the news that BBC is to create a rival 'woke' soap to reflect modern Britain.
However, BBC Chief Tim Davie does not seem too concerned about the clash.
As he addressed the House of Common's Accounts Select Committee, he said: "We’re not immune from competitive pressure, let’s be honest about it.
"And you may have a marginal impact or an impact during that hour, but we’re confident that the overall case for the EastEnders development remains strong."
According to The Sun, Mr Davie has also defended EastEnders new set that was over-budget by more than £20 million, as the soap needed the investment.
"That whole set wasn’t going to work anyway so it needed investment," he explained.
"We’re also confident about EastEnders as a strand; we’ve just put a new showrunner in there."
When the change in schedule was announced in January, fans took to social media to express their concern for the BBC One soap.
One wrote: "Bit of a bummer for #EastEnders this. It'll clash with either #Corrie or #Emmerdale constantly.
"I don't watch any of them live anyway but there's bound to be some people who like to watch all of them live and will now have to choose."
A second penned: "As for BBC, not many options. If they keep EastEnders as is, it's going to clash with an ITV soap every night and EE will be the bigger loser."
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As a third wrote: "Not itv changing the slots for emmerdale and corrie to clash with eastenders."
And another added: "Can't say I'm too impressed with #Emmerdale and #Corrie moving to different time slots in March.
"Yes be in in a block without half hour gaps is better, but it's now going to clash with #EastEnders & my tv box mucks up with recordings! plus il have nothing to watch with my tea at 7pm."
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