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Chris Chittell Secures 40th Anniversary Year on Emmerdale as ITV Cuts Weekly Episodes

ITV will reduce Emmerdale’s run to five episodes per week from January 2026 following budget and staffing revisions

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Overview

  • Chris Chittell has extended his contract to remain as Eric Pollard until September 2026, marking his 40th year on the soap
  • Chittell first joined Emmerdale in 1986 for a 12-episode villainous stint before becoming the show’s longest-serving cast member
  • Pollard’s key storylines have included his 2023 Parkinson’s diagnosis and the death of his wife Val in a helicopter crash
  • This renewal highlights ITV’s reliance on long-standing cast members to anchor Emmerdale during tightening budgets
  • Insiders say major plot developments are planned for Pollard’s milestone year to retain audience engagement