Emmerdale and Coronation Street fans will soon be able to watch their favourite soaps early as part of huge changes at ITV.

The broadcaster has announced that both shows will now drop first on streaming platform ITVX, before airing in their traditional slots on ITV1.

From Monday 14 October new episodes will be available on ITVX from 7am, ahead of their evening broadcast.

ITV said the change is part of its strategy to ‘offer our viewers ultimate choice in how they watch our programmes’.

Both soaps have previously offered fans the chance to catch the action from the cobbles and the Dales early during the Olympics and Euros this summer.

The permanent changes to the schedules bring Emmerdale and Coronation Street in line with BBC rival EastEnders, which has long been dropping episodes on iPlayer at 6am each morning ahead of their TV broadcast.

ITV’s new 7am ‘soap drop’ also coincides with the launch of a new Soap destination on ITVX with dedicated rails for Classic Coronation Street and Classic Emmerdale, as well as a rail of Greatest Episodes.

There will also be a Stars of the Soaps collection too, with dramas like Tina and Bobby (starring Michelle Keegan), Maryland (starring Suranne Jones) and The Long Shadow (starring Katherine Kelly), and more besides.

Iain MacLeod, Executive Producer for Continuing Drama at ITV said: ‘This is great news for soap fans! Having the ability to catch your favourite show at a time that suits you fits perfectly with people’s busy days and flexible lives. And who doesn’t love the idea of watching the latest Dingle drama in the Dales or calamity on the Cobbles on the tram to work, or over a brew after dropping the kids at school!

‘As a soap nerd, I should also say that the new soap page is an absolute treat. It’s a one-stop shop for fans of Coronation Street and Emmerdale and it will now be so easy to enjoy your favourite shows, and delve into their illustrious histories and beyond.’