Emmerdale beat EastEnders in TV ratings as the rival soaps faced off following a huge schedule change.
The soaps have gone directly against one another in the coveted weekday 7.30pm slot after the schedule shake-up, with Emmerdale now airing at the same time every weekday, with an hour episode on Thursday.
EastEnders has now moved to a consistent 7.30pm time slot too, airing Mondays to Thursdays on BBC One at this time and putting it in direct competition with Emmerdale.
Coronation Street has bagged itself the 8pm slot and will show hour long episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with all of this having changed in a new schedule shake-up, which began for all soaps yesterday (Monday 7th March).
TV ratings are now in for the three soaps from last night and it has revealed that Emmerdale beat rival EastEnders, with Coronation Street coming top of the TV viewing last night.
Emmerdale managed to rake in an average of 4.3 million viewers during its half an hour slot at 7.30pm, peaking at 4.5 million viewers, whilst in contrast, BBC soap EastEnders managed an average audience of 2.7 million and a peak of 2.8 million viewers.
However, Corrie - and the drama surrounding Abi's surprise baby - saw the ITV soap sail to the top of the TV ratings for last night, with an average audience of 4.4 million viewers and a peak of 4.8 million viewers.
Elsewhere, Our House - ITV's new drama starring Line Of Duty's Martin Compston - was watched by an average of 3.7 million viewers when it aired on 9pm, whilst The Chase saw an average of 3.5 million viewers and The One Show was watched by 2.9 million.
EastEnders confirmed they were "delighted" to make the schedule change, with Kate Oates - BBC Studios’ continuing drama chief - said: "We're delighted that, from 7 March, there will be new regular time slots for EastEnders on BBC1, and Doctors on BBC2. EastEnders’ new 7.30pm slot begins with a hugely exciting week, as killer Gray Atkins is finally exposed."
John Whiston, ITV's Managing Director of Continuing Drama, also remarked about Corrie and Emmerdale's soap change.
Speaking about the shake-up, he added: "With Coronation Street bursting at the seams with fantastic story and character, the new format gives the show a brilliant new canvas on which to shine. And Emmerdale will do what it does best in this new time slot where viewers can continue to enjoy the dramatic goings on in the Dales."
