The BBC has revealed significant schedule changes that will impact several beloved programs, including EastEnders, Waterloo Road, and Silent Witness. This shift in programming is in response to an FA Cup draw that was announced for Tuesday, January 16, between Bristol City and West Ham United.

The BBC will provide live coverage of this highly-anticipated football match, scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm, leading to adjustments in the broadcasting schedule of some of the channel’s hit shows.

One of the casualties of this scheduling change is the renowned crime drama Silent Witness. The episode that was originally slated to air on Tuesday, January 16, will now be broadcast on Monday, January 22. This shift has disappointed fans who were eagerly anticipating the next instalment of this gripping series. Consequently, the remainder of the Silent Witness series will be pushed back by one week.

Subsequently, the episodes originally scheduled for January 22 and January 23 will now be aired on January 29 and January 30, respectively. It is worth noting that the BBC is anticipated to air a repeat episode in place of Silent Witness on January 23.

However, to appease eager viewers, the episode of Silent Witness originally planned for Tuesday, January 16, is expected to be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer starting from January 15, according to the initial plan.

Additionally, the high school drama series Waterloo Road is also affected by this rescheduling. There will be no new episode of the show during the week commencing January 15, due to the FA Cup match. Consequently, the episode originally set for Tuesday, January 16, will now be broadcast on Tuesday, January 23.

Lastly, the long-running London-based soap opera EastEnders will experience a shift in its airing schedule. For the upcoming week, starting on January 15, EastEnders will air on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, ensuring that fans can continue to enjoy the beloved show despite the scheduling changes