Soap Watch

Corrie set to move in 2012

ITV have announced a deal to move it's Northern operations to the new MediaCityUK complex at Salford Quays, including Corrie!

ITV announces +1 channel launch date

ITV have finally announced the launch date of it's time-shift channel. 

ITV announces new Britain's Got Talent Judges

There's been plenty of speculation over the fate of Britain's Got Talent after Simon Cowell announced he would not be part of the audition process and Piers Morgan stepped down as a judge altogether, as he took a job in America.

Corrie's 50th - First Episode Review

As part of the 50th celebrations, ITV announced it would be airing the very first episode of Coronation Street again in-between Monday 6th episodes. 

Corrie's 50th - Fans Asked to get Creative!

Coronation Street bosses have teamed up with ITV's This Morning to give fans the chance of creating a meal for The Rovers Return. 


The 'Cook A Dish For Corrie' competition will see fans and food enthusiasts battle to get their dish served in the famous pub along side Betty William's famous Hot Pot which seems to be the only thing they actually serve! This will change all that! 


Viewers are being invited to apply via the Corrie and This Morning websites. They must include a picture of their dish, a list of ingredients and testimonials for family and friends. Entry closes on 4th January 2011. A panel of food experts and Corrie producers will make a list of the best 10, and then a week long web vote will decide the best 3. On 24th January 2011 a live cook-off will happen on This Morning judged by TV chef Phil Vickery and some of the cast of Corrie and a winner will be decided. 


Are you going to enter? Let us know!

The X Factor - Finale Date Confirmed

It's come around so fast! ITV has confirmed the dates of The X Factor final! 


On Saturday 11th December, ITV will air the first of 2, 2 hour shows which will see "big surprises" and performances from international superstars. It will run from 7PM-9PM.


On Sunday 12th December, the final 2 hours will air. This show will include more performances from international superstars, the top two each performing the winner's single and of course the announcing of this year's winner! It will run from 7:30PM - 9:30PM. 


The final of The X Factor always brings in HUGE ratings and advertisers will have to spend alot of money to get a slot during the show. Who do you want to win?

Corrie's 50th - Anniversary Week Schedule Confirmed!

It's been a long time coming but ITV have finally confirmed the dates of Corrie's 50th week! 7 episodes will air over the week and many specials will air on both ITV and ITV2!

Let's go into a bit of detail.

Monday, December 6

• 7.30pm - Coronation Street 
• 8.00pm - Repeat of Coronation Street's first ever episode
• 8.30pm - Coronation Street
• 10.00pm - Coronation Street Uncovered: Live (duration TBC, airing on ITV2)

Tuesday, December 7

• 8.30pm - Coronation Street
• 9.00pm - Coronation Street: 50 Years, 50 Moments - Part One

Wednesday, December 8

• 7.00pm - Coronation Street

Thursday, December 9

• 8.00pm - Coronation Street (Hour Long Live episode)
• 9.00pm - Coronation Street: 50 Years, 50 Moments - Part Two

Friday, December 10

• 7.30pm - Coronation Street
• 8.30pm - Coronation Street
• 9.00pm - Coronation Street: The Big 50th (duration TBC)

Exciting times are ahead readers! A repeat of the first ever episode of Coronation Street will air 6th December. This is a brilliant idea! I can't wait to to see it! Stephen Mulhern will present Monday's special which will bring viewers closer to the action and get a reaction from the live audience. 

On Thursday, Corrie's first live episode in 10 years will air. On Friday, Paul O'Grady will host a special one-off quiz show testing celebrities knowledge of 50 years of the street. Finally on Tuesday and Thursday 50 Years, 50 Moments will air, showcasing 50 of the greatest Corrie moments chosen by the public. 

It's going to be a fantastic week for Corrie and a great year next year. 

Who's looking forward to it?

It's a Done Deal

ITV have now signed a 3 year deal for The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. Also they have secured the rights to show The American version of The X Factor exclusively on ITV2 alongside America's Got Talent.









There was lots of speculation about what will happen to The X Factor after Simon Cowell announced plans to take it to America and BGT after Piers Morgan announced he was leaving BGT but now we have nothing to worry about.


Simon Cowell will remain on our screens till at least 2013. Britain's Got Talent will return in the Spring of 2011. The X Factor will return later than normal in the Autumn of 2011. Spinoff shows, Britain's Got More Talent and The Xtra Factor will also return to ITV2. US X Factor will also be shown on ITV2 as will America's Got Talent. 


Cowell said: 


"I am thrilled this deal has been concluded with ITV to enable our relationship to continue to develop. I am committed to making sure both shows get bigger and better every year. I have a lot to thank ITV for; they have been key in making The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent the UK's biggest television shows."


In 2009 both finals of the two shows reached over 19 millions viewers so I bet ITV are buzzing they've secured it for another 3 years, and I am too! 

Cowell to sign new deal with ITV?

Apparently ITV is getting close to announcing a new deal with Simon Cowell.

The deal would mean both The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent will stay with ITV till 2013. ITV's Director of Television says:


"I had been hoping to be in a position to say we had done long term deals for The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. There has been a lot of talk and speculation but I don't think I am being too confident to say we are almost there."


The filming of both shows has come into doubt recently, with Cowell talking The X Factor to America in September 2011.

The X Factor - Longest Show Ever

Are you prepared to sit and watch X Factor for 2 and a half hours? 

On October 9th, ITV will air 2 and a half hour of X Factor as the 12 finalists sing in the first live show to gain a place in the next show. This will be longest episode in the history of X Factor. A spokesman for ITV has said the length of the episode is because of a 'surprise' to the viewers. 

Can you handle this much X Factor? What will the surprise be? I'm just a bit excited to be honest. 

Piers Morgan ready to quit Britain's Got Talent?

Piers Morgan has signed a new £2.6 million deal with ITV. 

The deal includes 12 episodes of Piers Morgan's Life Stories, in which he interviews celebrities and asks deep personal questions. It also includes 6 other shows similar to Piers Morgan On... It does not include Britain's Got Talent however. Piers recently signed a deal with US News channel CNN to take over from Larry King which begins in January. With this all going on, Piers will be unable to take part in the next series of BGT.

So, this news asks the question. What's happening with BGT? Since Simon Cowell announced weeks ago he was stepping down as a judge during the audition process because of the US X Factor and Amanda Holden is talking part in Shrek: The Musical (feel free to laugh, I did) and now Piers, what's going to happen? Will ITV cancel the show? Will they get new judges instead? There's already been rumors of Paul O'Grady and Peter Kay being in the pipeline. 

So what do you think will happen to BGT? What do you want to happen to it? Let us know your thoughts!