Former Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson has made a shock prediction about the future of Britain's most beloved soaps, saying he would be "surprised" if they survive another decade.
The veteran actor's comments come as ITV announced major cuts to its soap schedule.
Speaking to GB News, Lawson said: "I'll be surprised if we have Emmerdale, Corrie and EastEnders in ten years.
"It is simply nothing to do with the quality or anything, I don't think. There are lots of different reasons but the main fact is that we all watch TV or whatever you want to call it these days, and in totally different ways.
Charlie Lawson said Corrie has had "its lowest figures this winter"
GB News
"I'm a running newsman and pick and choose, and I think everybody does. When I was doing Corrie, we were getting between 12 and 22 million people and I think it's had its lowest figures this winter, I'm told.
"It is just because people are watching television different ways. So if they're still there in ten years time, I'll be surprised. It could be a different format or whatever."
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"I'm not surprised they've cut it down. When I joined, there was two apps, then there was three, then there was four. This has precious little to do with the producers at the moment in ITV.
"Golden Square in London make the decision on income from advertising and all the rest of it, and I think a lot of them survive on income and so I'm not surprised."
The broadcaster revealed on Tuesday that Emmerdale will air at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm, Monday to Friday.
This marks a significant change from the current schedule, where Coronation Street airs three hour-long episodes weekly, while Emmerdale broadcasts four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.
Coronation Street has been a staple British soap for the past sixty years
PA
Episodes will continue to be available on ITVX from 7am before their evening broadcast.
The changes will reduce ITV's total soap output from six hours to five hours per week.
ITV's decision follows research showing that 30-minute episodes attracted higher audiences in 2024.
The broadcaster says shorter episodes deliver more "digestible instalments" that better fit with changing viewer habits.
TV's Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo emphasised the viewer-led nature of these changes.
"In a world where there is so much competition for viewers' time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule," he said.
"We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people," Lygo stated.
ITV confirmed the changes would not affect the casts of either show.
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