ITV is facing a cash crisis, with fans worried for their favourite soap operas

SOAP fans fear that Emmerdale will be axed in order to save Coronation Street.

Sally Ann Matthews, who plays Jenny Bradley on the ITV soap Coronation Street, has said that ITV is struggling financially.

And we recently reported that the show could possibly cease broadcasting, in favour of streaming.

There are big fears that if ITV’s cash crisis continues, the show won’t make it to broadcast anymore.

This comes after five stars — Charlotte Jordan, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan — have announced they are leaving or being written out since November 2024.

And now soap fans reckon that if it comes down to it, ITV would axe Emmerdale in a bid to save the Manchester-based soap opera.

“If it came down to it, ITV would sacrifice Emmerdale to save Corrie,” one fan penned in a soap forum.

“Emmerdale would go first as the sacrificial lamb,” said another.

“As people have said they’ll scrap Emmerdale before Corrie goes,” said a third, writing, “It feels that ITV itself is linked into Coronation Street in a way, if Corrie goes then I’m not surprised what ITV looks like in the future.

“But can you justify giving resources to a show where the quality is really poor and viewing figures only going one way?”

A fourth person then added: “Can they afford to scrap either?

“All their game shows rely heavily on celeb editions and a lot of the celebs are soap stars. They’re all interlinked…”

This comes after The Sun reported this week that actors have been chatting about their fury on a WhatsApp group over fears they could be next to be cut.

A source said: “Coronation Street used to be the jewel in ITV’s crown. Now there’s a despondency among actors.”

We also reported that some actors are leaving the soap because money being a content creator is far better.

A source revealed: “There are soap stars who were making very good livings from their jobs – but doubling their incomes from influencing.

“You can’t blame them for quitting what can be a relentless, full-on job when a few Instagram posts can bring in more money.

“It’s a real worry that left bosses fearing that more could follow suit.”

There are also swirling rumours that ITV’s future is more with its streaming service ITVX rather than traditional television.

One source said: “Ultimately TV is dying and streaming is the future. Even Corrie will eventually be a streaming show but that’s not a bad thing.

“It has had so many reinventions over the years that it will just be another evolution.”

A soap fan then speculated in the aforementioned forum: “I wonder what they’d do with the finale.

“Neighbours got some real powerhouse people like Margot Robbie and Holly Valance. It might be Ken’s death and a monologue from Rita.”