SOAP WATCH

Yesterday saw the start of another Brexit-style split in the nation – between Euro 2020 enthusiasts and soap fans. Whenever football disrupts the schedules, you can guarantee soap stalwarts will be up in arms about changes to their favourite shows. This year, though, the broadcasters are doing all they can to stem the tears that will doubtless be flowing (and not just those from supporters when their hopes are dashed).

On Monday, and subsequent Mondays during the tournament, all episodes of EastEnders, Corrie and Emmerdale for the coming week will be made available to watch on-demand, on BBC iplayer and ITV Hub respectively. This won’t help anyone with an old Rediffusion TV that barely gets two channels, but will alleviate some of the hysteria.

It also means that, unlike the rest of the country’s pubs, no one in soapland bars will be talking about football results. That’s probably just as well. When Corrie once wrote in a last-minute storyline involving characters suddenly jetting off to support England, they hadn’t checked the time zones, and the guys would have missed the match. Better to say nothing than risk an own goal.