Is Emmerdale on tonight? ITV soap schedule explained ahead of Corriedale crossover episode - is it on early release?

In a historic first for ITV, a crossover event in the form of Corriedale will see characters from Coronation Street and Emmerdale interact as a devastating car crash on a country road between Weatherfield and Emmerdale has huge consequences for both soap worlds.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the one-off special, which is being used to launch ITV’s new ‘soap power hour’. But what about the normal episodes of Emmerdale - will fans still be able to tune in as normal for the ITV soap ahead of Corriedale’s premiere?

Here’s everything you need to know.

Is Emmerdale on TV tonight?

The good news for fans is that there will be standalone episodes of both Emmerdale and Coronation Street before the huge Corriedale episode airs.

Emmerdale will hit ITV1 and STV at 7pm tonight (January 5). The normal early-release episode is available right now on ITVX , STV Player, and YouTube.

The standalone Emmerdale episode will be followed by an episode of Coronation Street at 7.30pm, before the highly-anticipated crossover event Corriedale hits screens at 8pm. The Corriedale episode will not be available to watch on early release.

From Tuesday, January 6, there will be a new schedule on ITV for both Emmerdale and Coronation Street. Both soaps will air half-hour episodes every weeknight as part of the new ‘soap power hour’ schedule.

As a result, Emmerdale will move back to an 8pm timeslot in the ITV weeknightly schedule. This will be followed by a half-hour episode of Coronation Street from 8.30pm every weeknight.

What’s in store for Emmerdale characters in Corriedale?

The Corriedale episode comes amid major drama for village residents. John Sugden has made a shocking return to Emmerdale, months after his sudden escape. The killer fled the village in September after his misdeeds, including imprisoning Mack and killing Nate Robinson, were uncovered by now ex-husband Aaron and Robert.

John resurfaced over Christmas, threatening Aaron and Robert and holding them at gunpoint in a sinister revenge plot. Aaron is pretending along with his plan for the pair to move away together and start a new life - but John’s plan for a quick escape look to be scuppered by the Corriedale drama.

Elsewhere, Mack is determined to reach Jacob and Sarah to tell them the truth about Charity’s pregnancy after secrets were spilled over Christmas. Charity offered to be the surrogate for granddaughter Sarah after her dream of having a child with now-husband Jacob was left in ruins after having to undergo a hysterectomy.

However, what Charity didn't mention was that at the same time she had offered to carry their child, she had strayed from husband Mack with Ross, and fell pregnant with his child. Vanessa drunkenly spilled the beans to Mack over Christmas, with Mack now racing to inform Sarah and Jacob of the truth before they set off on their honeymoon.

Ray has also found himself in hot water after his criminal background was uncovered. Ray and mum Celia have been running a drugs operation across Yorkshire in the past few months, taking advantage of Emmerdale youngsters April and Dylan. Amid blackmailing April and dad Marlon, Ray ran Dylan over, causing him to go into a coma.,

When Dylan woke from the coma, he told April that he had also found out that Ray and Celia were also forcing people including Bear Wolf to work on their farm. Ray had began a relationship with an unassuming Laurel and eventually ended up killing mum Celia, who admitted to killing Bear, so they wouldn’t have to flee the village. When Ray arrived to tell Laurel that he wouldn’t have to leave Emmerdale, he found out that Dylan had already told her everything about his seedy, criminal background.