Coronation Street and Emmerdale have confirmed that viewers will notice timeline issues as a result of episodes being rescheduled.
ITV recently announced that Corrie will reduce to three episodes per week from Monday, March 30, while Emmerdale will drop down to five weekly episodes.
The last-minute change allows both soaps to stay on air for as long as possible, amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
However, Digital Spy can exclusively confirm that this will pose some timeline issues, with events such as Easter now being marked on screen on the wrong dates.
Producers are hoping that viewers will show understanding in this unusual situation, which is beyond the control of the programmes' teams.
In a statement released to Digital Spy, an ITV spokesperson explained: "In the coming weeks some episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will understandably be out of kilter due to the temporary transmission pattern for both programmes, which takes effect from Monday 30 March.
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"Episodes due to broadcast at Easter and those commissioned and filmed to commemorate VE Day, for instance, won't now air on the dates we'd anticipated. We'd hope the audience will understand the reasons for this and continue to enjoy the shows."
ITV has also addressed the fact that Coronation Street and Emmerdale characters will be seen drinking at The Rovers Return and The Woolpack.
Government advice has indicated that the public should avoid pubs, bars and restaurants in order to combat the spread of the virus.
The ITV spokesperson added: "Additionally, as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale film many weeks before they air on ITV, episodes will continue to feature scenes set in The Rovers and Woolpack and other communal areas.
"Although the Government's latest guidelines indicate that people should avoid such public spaces, we'd ask viewers to make allowances for the fact that filming took place before the coronavirus pandemic and to make sure they follow the most recent Government health advice."
Coronation Street and Emmerdale are both currently still filming episodes in Manchester and Leeds, while adhering to advice from the government and Public Health England.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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