Katie Collier

ITV will replace the usual Wednesday evening episodes of Emmerdale and Coronation Street with coverage of the Manchester United–Leeds United pre-season friendly, and no Sunday episode was scheduled at the time of publication. Coronation Street is also expected to bring back actress Emma Matthews in a new role later in the year, following her previous appearances as a social worker and nurse.

Hit Point, U&Dave’s first original scripted drama, follows detectives Leo and Bella as they investigate the theft of millions of pounds in West London. Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking lead the cast, which also includes William Abadie, Brendan Coyle, Peter Serafinowicz, Nadia Parkes, Moe Bar-El, Ossian Perret and Joshua Sher. Written by Howard Overman and directed by David Caffrey, the series is scheduled to premiere on August 13 across U&Dave, U&W and U&Drama.

The 2026 Christmas special of BBC’s Call the Midwife, titled “Sisters In Arms,” will be a three-part prequel set in Poplar in September 1939, at the outbreak of World War II. It introduces five new cast members—Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier and Lizzie Back—and follows the young Nonnatus House team as evacuation, the blackout and the Blitz transform life in East London. The special is expected to air during the festive season, although an exact broadcast date has not been announced.

Betfred plans to close 132 betting shops across the UK from September, putting more than 600 jobs at risk and reducing its estate to about 1,100 shops. Chief executive Jo Whittaker attributed the decision to higher employer national insurance contributions, wage inflation, increased gambling taxes and broader economic uncertainty. The closures reflect wider pressure on the UK betting industry, with Evoke, Paddy Power and other major operators also announcing shop closures.

Rule H2 requires drivers turning into or out of a junction to give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross, but many drivers and pedestrians remain uncertain about how it should work in practice. Experts Ben Welham and Dan Briggs explain that violating the rule does not automatically attract a fixed penalty, but it may be used as evidence in court and collisions can lead to serious driving offences and penalties. They attribute confusion partly to the 2022 rule change and argue that clearer criteria and more decisive communication between drivers and pedestrians are needed.

Game Retail Limited has entered administration with nearly £16 million owed to creditors as financial struggles stemming from declining physical game sales, market changes, and industry delays intensified. Administrators reported years of falling revenue and losses, noting the retailer’s difficulty adapting to a digital-first gaming environment and broader economic pressures. Frasers Group previously acquired the company’s intellectual property in an effort to stabilise operations, but the business continued to deteriorate, leading the secured creditor to withdraw support. Administrators expect only secured creditors to receive distributions, while unsecured creditors are unlikely to be repaid beyond the prescribed part.