Emmerdale closing on EastEnders

ITV1's Emmerdale is closing in on BBC1's EastEnders in the battle to be the UK's number two rated soap behind Coronation Street, reports Media Guardian (free registration required).

On Monday an email was sent round to all ITV staff by the Granada head of drama, John Whiston, which highlighted the fact that in the battle of the soaps, Emmerdale was closing the gap on its BBC1 rival.

"About three years ago we said that there would come a day when Emmerdale overtook EastEnders and became the number two soap in Britain. It was just one of those things you say, like I bet Liverpool are going to win the Champions League. Be nice, but you don't really expect it to actually happen," he said in the leaked memo.

"Well, with the story team on fire, the writers charging along brilliantly, a fantastic production team and a cast to die for, all I can say is... watch this space."

According to official audience figures, in June 2004 there was a difference of six percentage share points between the performance of Emmerdale and EastEnders. But by June 2005 this had been reduced to less than two.

And for the last month Emmerdale has been running at an average of one percentage share point behind EastEnders.