SOAP OVERDOSE; TV watchdogs warn too much Corrie.

Byline: NICOLA METHVEN, TV Editor

ITV chiefs were criticised yesterday by television watchdogs for showing too many soaps at peak time.

The Independent Television Commission warned channel bosses that episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale had reached "saturation point".

The ITC warned the latest move to bring in a fifth weekly instalment of Corrie, in addition to five-nights-a-week Emmerdale, posed "a threat to diversity in peak time".

The two shows account for five hours of peak-time TV - between 6pm to 10.30pm.

Emmerdale is on every weekday night at 7pm and Corrie is screened on four nights with a double bill on Mondays.

Coronation Street gripped the nation in February when 19.4 million tuned in to watch evil killer Richard Hillman confess to wife Gail.

But last night one ITV insider said: "This is a huge fuss over nothing.

"The only difference between the amount of soaps we showed during 2002 and the previous year is one extra episode of Coronation Street on Monday nights.

"This instalment has proved a huge hit with the audience - so perhaps we should let the viewers decide because they certainly don't seem to think there is too much soap on ITV."

A spokesman for ITV, which last year had a seven per cent drop in advertising revenue, said: "We believe ITV delivered a diverse, quality schedule and achieved some striking critical and ratings successes across 2002." The ITC annual report did praise children's programmes on CITV which were described as "impressive".

HOW THEY FARED ELSEWHERE

NEWS: Difficult year, losing share, but still producing comprehensive and high quality reports.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: Exceeded requirements with two weekly editions of Tonight with Trevor McDonald although some stories did stretch definition of current affairs.

DRAMA: Good range and volume including Forsyte Saga and Dr Zhivago.

COMEDY AND ENTERTAINMENT: Spectacular success with Pop Idol but old favourites such as Blind Date and Millionaire less reliable in ratings.

CAPTION(S):

CORRIE KILLER: Richard with Gail