You’d think ITV had learned that dropping the soaps for football – FOOTBALL – is a very popular move.
But presumably they make too much money out of it to care, for they have pulled episodes of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale again.
Yes, soap fans, you might want to think your plans for next Wednesday night over, as there will be no Woolpack or Rovers-centric entertainment to be had.
ITV will instead be running coverage of the semi-finals of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
One Twitter botherer summed up many people’s feelings pretty succinctly, saying: “Coronation Street cancelled for some tinpot cup that no one’s heard of. Get a grip ITV.”
Another said: “Well done to the coronation Street cast for another gripping story it’s a pity you not on 2 nights next wk due to football so annoying.” [sic]
Typically it’s going to be a pretty gripping -almost week of episodes too.
In Emmerdale Rhona finally blurts out her rape ordeal to her neighbours in The Woolpack when she hears them singing Pierce’s praises.
She finally snaps and tells them – in no uncertain terms – what he is really like.
The villagers are appalled to hear Rhona accuse Pierce of raping her…
Zoe Henry, who plays the fragile mum-of-one, reveals: “People are talking about how nice Pierce is and how sorry they are the marriage is over, and Rhona can’t take it any more and she snaps.
“One of her worst fears has been the dam breaking, and this is it. She’s very emotional and feels anger, shame, embarrassment – it’s a real mountain of tears. She doesn’t want to wait for a reaction so she storms out.
“Rhona is paranoid and thinks everybody’s talking about her, but in actual fact they’re not.
“Then she bumps into Lisa Dingle who unfortunately has been through something similar. They have a heart-to-heart, and Lisa reassures her and says people care about her and just want wants best.
“Rhona feels an element of relief that it’s out in the open, but she knows the next battle will be the court case, if and when that happens.”
However, it looks like there is more immediate trauma for the vet: a stalker in her midst. Or should we say, Pierce stalking her in a dreadful campaign of terror.
Read more: Emmerdale airs shock stabbing ordeal
She’s left terrified when, after that exhausting day facing the rest of the village, she goes home to run herself a bath.
Like something out of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Rhona is horrified when she spots an eerie message written in the steam on the mirror.
Rhona turns to Paddy, frightened because someone has been in the house – and she is adamant that it’s Pierce.
Furious, Paddy drives to Pierce’s office to confront him.
It doesn’t end Rhona’s ordeal as the next morning she comes down to find the door open and empty packets of pills on the table.
An anxious Rhona runs outside when she can’t find Leo, but Marlon and Paddy clock her with the empty packets in her hands.
Read more: Is Emma Barton’s killer secret about to come out?
They assume she’s back on the painkillers, even though Rhona protests her innocence.
But will they believe her? And who IS stalking her?