Overview
- ITV executives say the crossover is a standalone event with no plans for future soap mergers, according to Iain MacLeod.
- The broadcast is scheduled for 8pm on Monday 5 January 2026 on ITV1, with no early release on ITVX and separate half‑hour lead‑ins streaming from 7am.
- Producers frame the new schedule as a response to growing ITVX viewing and the preference for more digestible half‑hour instalments.
- Trailers, images and cast reactions highlight large‑scale stunts and a 40‑strong ensemble under director Duncan Foster after weeks of night shoots and complex effects.
- The storyline is being tightly guarded, with previews signaling serious consequences without confirming who is affected.