ITV bosses are thought to be planning a dramatic shake-up of their flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with proposals to ‘cut one in ten cast members’ as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures.
The broadcaster has announced plans to slash £15million from its budget, after revealing profits have plunged by 44 per cent to £99million for the first half of the year.
Now, both soaps are reportedly being targeted in a bid to bring spiralling production costs under control.
It has been reported that around 10 per cent of the current cast lists – which include 84 regulars on Corrie and 70 on Emmerdale – are expected to be dropped.
Scripts and episode structures are also under review, with producers being told to reduce the number of scenes per episode and tighten shooting schedules.
A source told The Sun: ‘It’s brutal. We’ve known it was on the cards for a while, but they’re really cranking it up now and it’s across the soaps.
ITV bosses are thought to be planning a dramatic shake-up of their flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with proposals to ‘cut one in ten cast members’ as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures
The broadcaster has announced plans to slash £15million from its budget, after revealing profits have plunged by 44 per cent to £99million for the first half of the year
‘They’re looking to save millions and Corrie and Emmerdale are the obvious places. They’re very expensive shows.’
Most actors are contracted per episode and guaranteed a set number annually – a system which is thought to have become unsustainable.
Some long-serving cast members are reportedly concerned about their job security, particularly those who rely on a steady income from the soaps.
The source added: ‘Many who have been there for a long time are reliant on their income staying as it is.
‘The amount of cast has spiralled out of control and focusing on dialogue, not action, could also save money.’
The proposed cuts come as ITV undergoes a wider restructuring across its daytime programming, with major job losses already hitting shows including Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
It comes after the broadcast channel has already started undergoing changes to its daytime format.
Now, both soaps are being targeted in a bid to bring spiralling production costs under control and it has been reported that around 10 per cent of the current cast lists – which include 84 regulars on Corrie and 70 on Emmerdale – are expected to be dropped
Scripts and episode structures are also under review, with producers being told to reduce the number of scenes per episode and tighten shooting schedules
Most actors are contracted per episode and guaranteed a set number annually – a system which is thought to have become unsustainable
Some long-serving cast members are reportedly concerned about their job security, particularly those who rely on a steady income from the soaps
As previously reported by MailOnline, the fourth series of The 1% Club, which is normally shown on Saturday nights, ended in May – but will now be back in Autumn, in a brand new form.
Instead of airing just one night per week, ITV announced the programme will be transformed to create a five-day special event renamed The 1% Club Rollover.
The basic gameplay will remain the same – but if the prize pot is not won on one episode, it will roll over to the next.
Also in May, ITV announced there would be dramatic changes to Lorraine Kelly’s show slashed from an hour to 30 minutes and, like Loose Women, will only air 30 weeks of the year.
The new regime, set to come into effect in January, will cost a potential 300 staff members their jobs as a consultation period begins, thought to last until September, before employees are finally let go in December.
A source told The Sun: ‘The tension is unbearable. There’s a lot of rage towards This Morning, which everyone feels is constantly favoured despite it being the lame duck of the daytime flock.
‘There’s a feeling that Loose Women and Lorraine are delivering resilient, solid ratings while This Morning is always in the Press for its tumbling viewing figures. Loose Women is even winning awards.
It comes after the broadcast channel has already started undergoing changes to its daytime format which included The 1% club which will be back on screens in the Autumn
Instead of airing just one night per week, ITV announced the programme will be transformed to create a five-day special event renamed The 1% Club Rollover
In May, ITV announced there would be dramatic changes to Lorraine Kelly’s show slashed from an hour to 30 minutes and, like Loose Women, will only air 30 weeks of the year (pictured host Kaye Adams (L), guests Oti Mabuse and Myleene Klass (middle) and panelist Nadia Sawalha (R) in July 2025)
‘Never mind the Phillip Schofield scandal and then Holly Willoughby leaving, This Morning is like the black sheep and yet that’s the show that is not facing any cuts.
‘Everyone is absolutely furious that This Morning has got away with it yet again.’
A source added that some of the older members of the ITV presenting teams are worried that bosses will favour younger stars for the roles that are left.
MailOnline contacted ITV for comment at the time.
