ITV have issued a statement explaining the impact of episode delays on future storylines in Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Earlier this week it was announced that Corrie will be cut down from six to three episodes a week from the end of the month, while Emmerdale is being reduced to five a week.

The measure is designed to keep both soaps on air for as long as possible should the coronavirus outbreak eventually shut down production entirely.

As a result, episodes originally intended for broadcast over Easter in mid-April and VE Day in May will now air much later than planned - although ITV is not planning to re-edit the episodes accordingly.

The ITV statement 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.

"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.

"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."

BBC soap EastEnders faces a similar dilemma, with episodes having been cut from four to two a week in an effort to keep the show on air until May.