ITV Adds Classic Episodes Of Coronation Street And Emmerdale To Keep Us Entertained During Lockdown

Both shows will be taking us down memory lane, after it was revealed they're close to running out of episodes.

ITV has announced it’s adding classic episodes of long-running soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale to its catch-up service, after both shows shut down production due to the coronavirus outbreak.

As of Monday (4 May), soap fans will be able to go on an epic nostalgia trip, with classic episodes of both shows available to stream for free.

The Corrie episodes that will be streamed on the ITV Hub are from 25 years ago, focussing on the goings on of July 1995, when Weatherfield legends like Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear), Raquel Wolstenhulme (Sarah Lancashire) and Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) were at large on the cobbles.

Open Image Modal
Julie Goodyear as Bet Lynch in 1995
Shutterstock

Meanwhile, Emmerdale will be debuting episodes from December of that same year, focussing on an era when Kim Tate and Dave Glover (Claire King and Ian Kelsey) were embroiled in an affair.

These episodes will also continue to air on ITV3 as usual, while a new collection of classic soap highlights will also be available to stream on BritBox from 14 May.

Open Image Modal
Dave and Kim's affair created quite the soap scandal back in 1995
ITV/Shutterstock

ITV boss Kevin Lygo revealed last week that Corrie and Emmerdale could both be coming close to running out of episodes, with the latter having enough to continue airing for the next few weeks, while the former may run out in June.

Meanwhile, there’s a treat in store for sports fans on the ITV Hub too, with all matches from the Euro 1996 tournament available to watch from 11 May, following the decision to postpone Euro 2020 until next year.

Reality fans will also be treated to classic episodes of Gemma Collins: Diva Forever and The Real Housewives Of Cheshire.

Stars Who've Switched Soaps
Denise Welch(01 of28)
Open Image Modal
Denise played Natalie Horrocks in 'Corrie' for 3 years and after brief flirtations with other shows, she returned to the world of soaps with a role in 'Waterloo Road'. (credit:WENN)
Jamie Lomas(02 of28)
Open Image Modal
Serial switcher Jamie Lomas starred in 'Coronation Street' and 'Hollyoaks', before taking his latest role as Jake Stone in 'EastEnders'. (credit:PA)
Claire King(03 of28)
Open Image Modal
After ten years as Dale Farm's resident bad girl Kim Tate, Claire left 'Emmerdale' and from 2005, starred as Claire in 'Hollyoaks'. (credit:Ben Stansall via Getty Images)
Ross Kemp(04 of28)
Open Image Modal
Yes, we all know Ross Kemp as EastEnders' hardman Grant Mitchell, but did you know he also in an episode of 'Emmerdale' in 1986? (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Michelle Collins(05 of28)
Open Image Modal
Michelle spent the best part of 10 years as 'EastEnders' character Cindy Beale. She later switched sides, moving to ITV's 'Coronation Street' to play barmaid Stella Price. (credit:Getty Images)
Angela Griffin (06 of28)
Open Image Modal
Angela Griffin is well-known for playing Corrie's Fiona Middleton in the '90s, but before that she made a brief appearance in 'Emmerdale', starring in two episodes. (credit:WENN)
Daniella Westbrook(07 of28)
Open Image Modal
Daniella Westbrook found fame as Walford's Sam Mitchell and in 2013, she signed up for a stint on 'Hollyoaks'. (credit:Getty Images)
Ben Hull(08 of28)
Open Image Modal
'Hollyoaks' actor Ben Hull has also appeared in one episode of 'Corrie' and four episodes of the now-defunct 'Brookside'. (credit:Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive)
Gillian Taylforth(09 of28)
Open Image Modal
Gillian Taylforth spent 15 years as Kathy Beale in 'EastEnders', though 'Hollyoaks' fans will recognise her as Sandy Roscoe. (credit:Getty Images)
Chris Bisson(10 of28)
Open Image Modal
Chris Bisson has been starring in 'Emmerdale' since 2009 but until 2002, he was known as Vikram Desai in 'Corrie'. (credit:Shirlaine Forrest via Getty Images)
Sherrie Hewson(11 of28)
Open Image Modal
Sherrie Hewson was Corrie's Maureen Naylor until 1997, when she left to star in the 2001 revival of daytime soap 'Crossroads'. (credit:WENN)
Anthony Quinlan (12 of28)
Open Image Modal
Anthony Quinlan was Hollyoaks' Gilly Roach for 6 years before leaving and, two years later, joining 'Emmerdale'. (credit:PA)
Sue Nicholls(13 of28)
Open Image Modal
Sue Nicholls spent four years in 'Crossroad' before joining 'Coronation Street' in 1979. (credit:Doug Peters)
Nicola Stapleton(14 of28)
Open Image Modal
Nicola Stapleton has appeared in 'Doctors', 'Emmerdale' and 'EastEnders' - we can only assume a role in 'Corrie' is up next... (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Johnny Briggs (15 of28)
Open Image Modal
Johnny Briggs starred as Coronation Street's Mike Baldwin from 1976 to 2006, before leaving for pastures new.He then appeared in the short-lived ITV soap 'Echo Beach'. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Gaynor Faye(16 of28)
Open Image Modal
Gaynor Faye, who is currently starring in 'Emmerdale' as Megan Macey, played Corrie's Judy Mallett for 4 years in the '90s. (credit:WENN)
David Neilson(17 of28)
Open Image Modal
David Neilson is the instantly recognisable actor who plays Roy Cropper in 'Coronation Street' but soap superfans will know that he also made one brief appearance 'EastEnders'. (credit:Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive)
Nikki Sanderson(18 of28)
Open Image Modal
Nikki Sanderson found fame as a teen in 'Corrie', and she can currently be seen playing Maxine Minniver in 'Hollyoaks'. (credit:WENN)
James Sutton(19 of28)
Open Image Modal
James Sutton recently returned as the only McQueen brother on 'Hollyoaks', but during his time away from the Channel 4 soap he spent two years in 'Emmerdale'. (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
Denise Black(20 of28)
Open Image Modal
Denise Black was best-known as Corrie's Denise Osbourne until 2007. After a stint treading the boards, she returned to Soapworld with a role in 'Emmerdale'. (credit:ITV)
Chris Fountain(21 of28)
Open Image Modal
Chris Fountain had been starring on the small screen for just 3 years when he landed a role in 'Hollyoaks'. Years later he turned up in 'Corrie' as Tommy Duckworth. before leaving in 2013. (credit:Matt Crossick/Matt Crossick)
Zoe Lucker (22 of28)
Open Image Modal
Zoe Lucker many be best-known for her roles in 'Footballer's Wives', 'Bad Girls' and 'EastEnders', but she also made a brief appearance in the daytime soap 'Doctors' in 2000. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Dan O'Connor (23 of28)
Open Image Modal
Aussie star Dan O'Connor was a 'Neighbours' staple before jetting over to Blighty, where he starred as Ally Connor in 'Hollyoaks'. (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
Gemma Bissix(24 of28)
Open Image Modal
Gemma Bissix won plenty of awards as Hollyoaks' Claire, before channel-hopping across to 'EastEnders' to play a character with the same first name. (credit:Matt Crossick/Matt Crossick)
Sheree Murphy(25 of28)
Open Image Modal
Sheree Murphy received a lot of love in 'Emmerdale' and she's since jetted off to Australia, where she now appears in 'Neighbours'. She also played Eva Price in 'Hollyoaks'. (credit:AP/Invision)
Meg Johnson (26 of28)
Open Image Modal
Meg Johnson is a fan favourite as Pearl in 'Emmerdale', but she's more famous for playing Eunice Gee in 'Corrie' until 1999. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Gary Lucy (27 of28)
Open Image Modal
Gary Lucy went from from 'Hollyoaks' to 'EastEnders', via 'The Bill' and 'Footballer's Wives'. (credit:PA)
Emily Symons(28 of28)
Open Image Modal
Aussie actress Emily Symons became famous in 'Home and Away', before swapping Ramsey Street for 'Emmerdale'. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)