Emmerdale celebrates Lionesses' triumphant Euros victory with surprise episode shake-up - amid claims soap will be hit by 'huge cast cull'

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Monday's episode of Emmerdale kicks off with a riotous pub celebration for the Lionesses' victory over Spain - in a last-minute addition from producers.
Even the ITV bosses behind the beloved soap cannot hide their pride for England's women's national football team, who emerged as the triumphant winners in Sunday's UEFA Euro finals.
The opening of the episode, which is already available on ITVX, will see Bob Hope, played by Tony Audenshaw, chatting with Mary Goskirk, played by Louise Jameson, about last night's incredible match.
Viewers will also get a glimpse of a lively celebration at the Woolpack pub, with villagers having piled excitedly in to watch the Lionesses make history.
The scene was a last-minute addition, filmed with the hopeful anticipation of an England win.
And it allowed Emmerdale to capture the national excitement surrounding the Lionesses' triumph.
'With the nation getting behind the Lionesses, we knew the fictional characters in Emmerdale would've been doing just the same,' said producer Laura Shaw.
'So, it felt right and proper that we should reflect this result on the show.'
The move follows news that ITV bosses are thought to be planning a dramatic shake-up of their flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with proposals to 'cut one in ten cast members' as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures.
The broadcaster has announced plans to slash £15million from its budget, after revealing profits have plunged by 44 per cent to £99million for the first half of the year.
Now, both soaps are reportedly being targeted in a bid to bring spiralling production costs under control.
It has been reported that around 10 per cent of the current cast lists - which include 84 regulars on Corrie and 70 on Emmerdale - are expected to be dropped.
Scripts and episode structures are also under review, with producers being told to reduce the number of scenes per episode and tighten shooting schedules.
A source told The Sun: 'It's brutal. We've known it was on the cards for a while, but they're really cranking it up now and it's across the soaps.
'They're looking to save millions and Corrie and Emmerdale are the obvious places. They're very expensive shows.'
Most actors are contracted per episode and guaranteed a set number annually - a system which is thought to have become unsustainable.
Some long-serving cast members are reportedly concerned about their job security, particularly those who rely on a steady income from the soaps.
The source added: 'Many who have been there for a long time are reliant on their income staying as it is.
'The amount of cast has spiralled out of control and focusing on dialogue, not action, could also save money.'
The proposed cuts come as ITV undergoes a wider restructuring across its daytime programming, with major job losses already hitting shows including Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
In a series of changes, the broadcast channel has already started undergoing changes to its daytime format.
As previously reported by MailOnline, the fourth series of The 1% Club, which is normally shown on Saturday nights, ended in May - but will now be back in Autumn, in a brand new form.
Instead of airing just one night per week, ITV announced the programme will be transformed to create a five-day special event renamed The 1% Club Rollover.
The basic gameplay will remain the same - but if the prize pot is not won on one episode, it will roll over to the next.
Also in May, ITV announced there would be dramatic changes to Lorraine Kelly's show slashed from an hour to 30 minutes and, like Loose Women, will only air 30 weeks of the year.
The new regime, set to come into effect in January, will cost a potential 300 staff members their jobs as a consultation period begins, thought to last until September, before employees are finally let go in December.
A source told The Sun: 'The tension is unbearable. There's a lot of rage towards This Morning, which everyone feels is constantly favoured despite it being the lame duck of the daytime flock.
'There's a feeling that Loose Women and Lorraine are delivering resilient, solid ratings while This Morning is always in the Press for its tumbling viewing figures. Loose Women is even winning awards.'