Soap history will be made on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 8pm, as the worlds of Coronation Street and Emmerdale collide in a life-changing one-hour special titled Corriedale.
Corrie airs 30 minute episodes weeknights on ITV1 from 5 January 2026 at 7.30pm and from the 6 January onwards each episode will air at 8.30pm
The high-stakes episode, which kicks off the new ‘Soap Power Hour’, promises a ‘cinematic approach to storytelling’ that will change lives forever.
Speaking about what she hoped to read: ‘Nothing for Carla. I was just thinking, what is this? What on earth is this?’ Alison recalled during a recent press panel. ‘There are no words, it’s just one thing after the other, and how on earth is Duncan [Foster, Director] going to do it?’.
A year on from Carla learning that sepsis damaged her kidney, our Weatherfield resident is in trouble again when she ends up caught up in a pile-up.
The drama kicks off for Kit (Jacob Roberts) and Carla as they head toward Hull, having realized Becky is attempting to flee to Rotterdam. As their car speeds toward the port, Carla calls Lisa. This call becomes just the start of the latest nightmare when a distracted Becky takes her eye off the road, triggering a massive multi-car pile-up on a stormy road between Hotton and Weatherfield.
Despite the “deathly vibe” of the episode, Alison was relieved by her character’s fate. ‘Obviously I hoped I’d still be alive at the end of it, and when I got to the end of it, I was like, yes! I’m not even maimed,’ she joked.
The production involved 14 gruelling nights of filming, often in freezing conditions. Director Duncan Foster was praised for maintaining a sense of calm and precision throughout the “cinematic” shoot.
Alison used the ‘Very, very comfy old fluffy smelly sock’ comparison. Honestly, we knew as soon as Duncan was in charge because I know him; he’s got everything written out in his head. ‘No matter what the weather threw at us or anything like that, he just made every frame-by-frame work, and he’s cool.’
What Comes Next?
Tuesday, Jan 6th: Weatherfield grieves the loss of one of its residents as others fight for their lives and the truth about exactly what happened on the stormy road to cause such a devastating pile-up.
Wednesday, Jan 7th: The aftermath of the crash impacts one couple as they face a life or death situation.
Thursday, Jan 8th: The police investigation continues with one resident finding themselves under arrest and facing charges.
Friday, Jan 9th: With families at war and surprises from the past, the aftermath of the crash continues to send shock waves through the street.
Catch up on ITVX, and for classic visits to Corrie, these episodes air weekdays on ITV3 as well as on YouTube.