Emmerdale is not on Monday, April 21 - here's why and when you can catch up

Make way for the football!
Joel Harley
By Joel Harley

Emmerdale isn’t airing (Monday, April 21), in a shake-up to the usual schedules on ITV1 and ITVX. As the soap faithful will be aware, it usually airs every weekday at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.However, that won’t be the case. But why – and when will Emmerdale be on next?

Billy looks shocked on Emmerdale
Viewers will have to wait until Tuesday to find out what happens next (Credit: ITV)

Why isn’t Emmerdale on?

Emmerdale won’t be airing due to the English Football League airing between 5pm and 7.45 on ITV1. This means that the soap has been given the elbow to make way for football.

ITV’s other soap, Coronation Street will still air at 8pm though, meaning that it’s only Emmerdale which will be affected by these changes. The episode won’t be released on ITVX either, and fans will have to wait a day for their fix.

Instead, the soap will air a double-bill on Tuesday (April 23), from 7pm – 8pm. These episodes will be released as normal on ITVX at 7am.

Kim watches a conversation between Cain, Caleb and Ruby
Cain and Kim attempt to mediate between Caleb and Joe (Credit: ITV)

What’s happening in Emmerdale next week?

In Tuesday’s bumper episode, Billy begins to wonder whether Dawn might be having an affair. Convinced that she’s seeing Ross, Billy confronts the other man about his suspicions.

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Read all the latest spoilers

Robert's date takes a turn and Joe is suspicious of Billy

Robert's date takes a turn and Joe is suspicious of Billy

6 hours ago
Paddy’s brutal attack, Bear’s reckless reaction and Ross robbed

Paddy’s brutal attack, Bear’s reckless reaction and Ross robbed

15 hours ago
Robert and John go head-to-head and Cain makes a discovery

Robert and John go head-to-head and Cain makes a discovery

1 day ago
John’s deadly plan for Robert, Sarah’s heartbreaking update and Joe’s dark revenge

John’s deadly plan for Robert, Sarah’s heartbreaking update and Joe’s dark revenge

2 days ago
Joe vows revenge on Billy and decides to teach him a lesson

Joe vows revenge on Billy and decides to teach him a lesson

3 days ago
Tracy bans Cain from Nate’s funeral as she wages war on the Dingles

Tracy bans Cain from Nate’s funeral as she wages war on the Dingles

4 days ago

And, as their confrontation turns physical, Billy is mortified when he airs his theory in front of Clemmie. Realising that he’s got it all wrong – and hurt his daughter in the process – Billy is left heartbroken.

As a devastated Billy collapses in Joe’s arms, he becomes riddled with guilt knowing that he’s the source of Billy’s pain. Later, as Billy leaves Home Farm, Joe reassures a guilty Dawn.

Elsewhere, Kim and Cain step in as the feud between Joe and Caleb grows. As the pair risk the truth about Anthony coming out, Kim decides to placate Caleb by offering him compensation – the land surrounding Caleb’s depot. With disaster seemingly averted, Joe and Kim are united in their determination to build an unstoppable empire.

Meanwhile, when Victoria meets one of John’s ex-soldier mates, she is shocked to discover that Aidan Moore is still alive. Discovering that Aidan is in a coma, Victoria tracks him down to a hospital in Leeds.

Later, John is horrified when Victoria confronts him about his lies. Will he come clean about his past?

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale in 2025? A complete guide to departures, returns and new arrivals in the Dales

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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