‘Coronation Street’ is likely to increase to seven episodes a week "at some point".
Ellen Taylor, one of the ITV soap’s writers, admits the Manchester-based show will probably "never" reduce its current six episodes per week total, and hinted the programme could follow in the footsteps of fellow ITV serial drama ‘Emmerdale’ by further increasing production.
Speaking to ‘Corrie’ podcast ‘Conversation Street’, she said: "Increased volume isn’t always a good thing. It’s a lot more work for everyone. It’s great for more ‘Corrie’, but is it best in the long run? I don’t know.
"We’re never going to go back down. ‘Emmerdale’ are already at seven episodes so you know it’s going to happen at some point."
Ellen admits increasing weekly episodes to even six a week has created some "challenges", which are "not always good ones".
She said: "There are a lot of challenges in terms of production. Obviously, you need more cast and you need a bigger set.
"Also, it throws up challenges, for me, in terms of stories, and not always good ones if I’m honest.
"That’s because when you have six episodes, particularly with our transmission pattern, it’s like you have to ramp up the story very quickly.
"When it’s six episodes a week you have to ramp everything up more for the next Monday and I think it makes the story telling more heightened – you’ve got to have more dramatic moments because you’ve got to keep hooking the viewers in and I’m not sure that’s always a good thing.
"I think that’s the nature of television today, everything has become a bit more high octane, sometimes there’s a lot more action on a show that traditionally wouldn’t have it.
And Ellen says some of the plots end up "dropping off a cliff" because of the busy scheduling.
She explained: "I still think ‘Corrie’ maintains a balance very well but I think because of those six episodes a week those high octane storylines and hooks to keep the viewers there have become a more dominant feature of the process.
"Also some stories drop off a cliff because of the six episodes and the scheduling."
Coronation Street could increase to 7 episodes ‘at some point’
