Coronation Street confirms legend will be axed from ITV soap in controversial move

An iconic Coronation Street character will be killed off next year, show bosses have confirmed. The ITV soap's executive producer Iain MacLeod shared that the decision to axe on beloved character has "caused arguments" between the writers.

He shared that one Weatherfield resident will meet their maker as part of the historic crossover with fellow soap Emmerdale in early 2026. He told the Daily Star: "The soap gods demand a sacrifice when you have an event of this kind. Sometimes the biggest and best exits are for characters that you care the most about. It's going to be shocking. There will be lots of trauma, drama and twists." MacLeod also claimed that the death is so significant that it has caused arguments between producers of the show.

He said: "There's always that equation where you think, 'If they were to go, the viewers will really care, but what damage will it do to the landscape of the show?' It's a big responsibility, so we do agonise about it quite a lot and argue about it."

The producer teased that the Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover episode will feature a number of major storylines coming to a head as they seek to make an episode befitting such a historic event.

He shared: "It's going to get bigger and bigger. Things will peak in a big way. There will be fairly shocking twists. We are putting our foot to the floor."

Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to join forces to launch the broadcaster's new power hour of soap that will begin on ITV1 and STV next year.

For the first time in British soap history, the hour-long episode will see characters from both programmes come together in a celebration of the genre.

The producers, scriptwriters and production teams have conceived an ingenious way of linking the two universes, but with characters then returning to the soaps they are renowned for inhabiting in Manchester and Yorkshire.

Viewers will see the communities from both dramas interact in a self-contained story which will see familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both Corrie and Emmerdale.

In the wake of the special, each soap will then return to its new normal pattern of transmission - 30 minutes each evening - Emmerdale episodes at 8pm, and Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm on ITV1 and STV.