Updated: Christmas Soap Schedules 2008

Well, here we go again for another year of soapy scheduling. Like last year, this page will be updated as soon as new scheduling information becomes available. So until you see the words 'all schedules are final' at the end of the 'updates' section, they're not confirmed.

Any clashes between the four main soaps are highlighted in RED, while any episodes which are not of their usual length or time are highlighted in bold font.

Five's Aussie soaps will continue as normal until the week before Christmas. Neighbours' final episode of 2008 will air on Thursday, December 18, while Home and Away goes on hiatus the following day (Friday, December 19). Both shows will return to air on Monday, January 5.

Doctors, meanwhile, will be on air until Friday, December 19, before taking a two-week break, returning to screens on Monday, January 5.

So what's the tally of soap hours this year? Well, at the moment, we're supposed to be having 6.5 hours of Emmerdale, 6 hours of Corrie, 5.5 of EastEnders, 4 hours of The Bill, 3 hours of Casualty and 2 hours of Holby City. That's a lot of drama, no?

UPDATES:
Fri, Nov 28 at 1440: ITV's draft scheduling has been added but is entirely provisional at this point. BBC schedules are also provisional.
Fri, Nov 28 at 1500: Channel 4's provisional Hollyoaks scheduling has now been added.
Mon, Dec 1 at 1415: ITV have made no changes in their latest schedules.
Tue, Dec 2 at 1155: Emmerdale's boxing day episode has been moved to 1830. BBC scheduling updated.
Tue, Dec 2 at 1630: ITV scheduling is now final.
Tue, Dec 2 at 1805: BBC scheduling is now final.
Fri, Dec 5 at 1120: Channel 4 scheduling is now final. All schedules are final.
Tue, Dec 16 at 1200: Channel 4 make a last-minute alternation to the Hollyoaks pattern.

Saturday, December 20
2010 - Casualty (50 mins)

Sunday, December 21
2100 - Casualty (1 hour)

Monday, December 22 - 30-minute Clash
1830 - Hollyoaks (1 hour)
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2030 - Corrie (30 mins)
2100 - The Bill (1 hour)

Tuesday, December 23 - 30-minute Clash
1830 - Hollyoaks (1 hour)
1900 - Emmerdale (1 hour)
1930 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2000 - Holby City (1 hour)
2100 - The Bill (1 hour)

Wednesday, December 24
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)

Thursday, December 25
1800 - Emmerdale (1 hour)
1900 - Corrie (1 hour)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2100 - EastEnders (30 mins)

Friday, December 26 - 30-minute Clash
1750 - Hollyoaks (30 mins)
1830 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2030 - Corrie (30 mins)

Saturday, December 27
2040 - Casualty (50 mins)

Monday, December 29
1830 - Hollyoaks (30 mins)
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2030 - Corrie (30 mins)

Tuesday, December 30 - 30-minute Clash
1830 - Hollyoaks (30 mins)
1900 - Emmerdale (1 hour)
1930 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2000 - Holby City (1 hour)

Wednesday, December 31
1830 - Hollyoaks (30 mins)
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - The Bill (1 hour)

Thursday, January 1
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
No Corrie
1930 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2000 - The Bill (1 hour)
2030 - EastEnders (30 mins)

Friday, January 2
1800 - Hollyoaks (1 hour)
1900 - Emmerdale (30 mins)
1930 - Corrie (30 mins)
2000 - EastEnders (30 mins)
2030 - Corrie (30 mins)

And the schedules should be back to normal from Monday, January 5.

What do you think of this year's soap schedules? Let me you’re your views using the usual form below!

> Click here to see last year's scheduling