BIGGEST TV NEWS STORIES OF 2025

A look back at some of the biggest TV news stories of the year...

ITV SOAP SCHEDULE CHANGES

February

ITV announced that from January 2026,  Coronation Street and Emmerdale will move to a new scheduling pattern on ITV1, introducing a soaps power hour from Monday-Friday, with 30 minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm, and 30 minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm. Episodes will continue to drop at 7am on ITVX, before transmission that evening.

DANCING ON ICE AXED

March

An ITV spokesperson said "Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice."

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE COMES TO THE UK

April

Sky is bringing NBC’s legendary late-night comedy showcase, Saturday Night Live, to the UK and Ireland in 2026. A star-studded lineup of hosts will take to the stage to declare, “Live from London, it’s Saturday Night!” in this brand-new edition of the programme. 

ITV DAYTIME CUTS

May

From January 2026, Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily, and will transfer to be produced by ITV News at ITN.  Lorraine will run from 9.30am-10am, on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year. This Morning will remain in its 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year, while Loose Women will be in the 12.30-1.30pm slot, again on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year.

 BBC EXPANDS ON CALL THE MIDWIFE

May

A prequel TV series set in Poplar during World War Two will be made for the BBC in 2026. In addition, Neal Street, in development with BBC Film, are producing a Call the Midwife film. This will be set overseas in 1972 and feature iconic characters from the existing TV show.

DISNEY REBOOTS BLIND DATE

June

Disney+ promise "Blind Date like you've never seen before" with a new 10x45' series with "innovative twists" to the classic format which it hopes will grab a modern audience. The biggest difference with the new Disney+ series is that once they've coupled up, the daters will go and spend the Summer together. However, lurking behind the walls are fresh potential partners ready to come in and 'shake things up'.

GREGG WALLACE AND JOHN TORODE DROPPED FROM MASTERCHEF

August

MasterChef has announced Grace Dent and Anna Haugh as the new judges for the forthcoming 22nd amateur series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Award-winning restaurant critic and journalist, Grace Dent, and Chef Patron of Myrtle Restaurant and TV presenter, Anna Haugh, are both experienced MasterChef judges across various series.

TESS AND CLAUDIA QUIT STRICTLY

October

Tess and Claudia have co-hosted together since 2014. Tess has presented the show since its first episode alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth whilst Claudia originally presented It Takes Two before moving over to host the results show alongside Tess in 2010. Since 2014, Tess and Claudia have presented the main show and results show together and were the first all-female duo to host a primetime entertainment programme on British TV.

BBC CONFIRMS FUTURE OF DOCTOR WHO

October

Doctor Who will be back on our screens at Christmas 2026 with a special episode written by Russell T Davies. With Disney+ confirming they will not be partnering on the next season of the sci-fi show, the BBC remain fully committed to the show and will announce plans for the next series in due course to ensure the Doctor’s adventures continue.

LINE OF DUTY WILL RETURN FOR NEW SERIES

November

Jed Mercurio’s hit thriller Line of Duty, produced by World Productions, will return to the BBC for a seventh series with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar reprising their roles.

For more details on all the year's stories, head to tvzoneuk.com