diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
index eab5f0f52..46d384c9c 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useSocket.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,15 @@ export const useRuntimePlaybackOverview = () => {
   return useRuntimeStore(featureSelector);
 };
 
+export const useTimelineOverview = () => {
+  const featureSelector = (state: RuntimeStore) => ({
+    plannedStart: state.runtime.plannedStart,
+    plannedEnd: state.runtime.plannedEnd,
+  });
+
+  return useRuntimeStore(featureSelector);
+};
+
 export const useTimelineStatus = () => {
   const featureSelector = (state: RuntimeStore) => ({
     clock: state.clock,
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
index 63b502329..f44a41103 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/ViewWrapper.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type WithDataProps = {
   publicSelectedId: string | null;
   runtime: Runtime;
   selectedId: string | null;
-  settings: Settings | undefined;
+  settings: Settings | undefined; // TODO: what is the case for this being undefined?
   time: ViewExtendedTimer;
   viewSettings: ViewSettings;
 };
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/Timeline.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/Timeline.tsx
index eddba2c5c..fc16b1294 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/Timeline.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/Timeline.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import { memo } from 'react';
 import { useViewportSize } from '@mantine/hooks';
 import { isOntimeEvent, MaybeNumber, OntimeEvent } from 'ontime-types';
-import { dayInMs, getFirstEvent, getLastEvent, MILLIS_PER_HOUR } from 'ontime-utils';
+import { dayInMs, getLastEvent, MILLIS_PER_HOUR } from 'ontime-utils';
+
+import { useTimelineOverview } from '../../../common/hooks/useSocket';
 
 import TimelineMarkers from './timeline-markers/TimelineMarkers';
 import ProgressBar from './timeline-progress-bar/TimelineProgressBar';
@@ -10,26 +12,6 @@ import { ProgressStatus, TimelineEntry } from './TimelineEntry';
 
 import style from './Timeline.module.scss';
 
-function useTimeline(rundown: OntimeEvent[]) {
-  const { firstEvent } = getFirstEvent(rundown);
-  const { lastEvent } = getLastEvent(rundown);
-  const firstStart = firstEvent?.timeStart ?? 0;
-  const lastEnd = lastEvent?.timeEnd ?? 0;
-  const normalisedLastEnd = lastEnd < firstStart ? lastEnd + dayInMs : lastEnd;
-
-  // we make sure the end accounts for delays
-  const accumulatedDelay = lastEvent?.delay ?? 0;
-  // timeline is padded to nearest hours (floor and ceil)
-  const startHour = getStartHour(firstStart);
-  const endHour = getEndHour(normalisedLastEnd + accumulatedDelay);
-
-  return {
-    rundown: rundown,
-    startHour,
-    endHour,
-  };
-}
-
 interface TimelineProps {
   selectedEventId: string | null;
   rundown: OntimeEvent[];
@@ -38,15 +20,17 @@ interface TimelineProps {
 export default memo(Timeline);
 
 function Timeline(props: TimelineProps) {
-  const { selectedEventId, rundown: baseRundown } = props;
+  const { selectedEventId, rundown } = props;
   const { width: screenWidth } = useViewportSize();
-  const timelineData = useTimeline(baseRundown);
+  const { plannedStart, plannedEnd } = useTimelineOverview();
 
-  if (timelineData === null) {
+  if (plannedStart === null || plannedEnd === null) {
     return null;
   }
 
-  const { rundown, startHour, endHour } = timelineData;
+  const { lastEvent } = getLastEvent(rundown);
+  const startHour = getStartHour(plannedStart);
+  const endHour = getEndHour(plannedEnd + (lastEvent?.delay ?? 0));
 
   let hasTimelinePassedMidnight = false;
   let previousEventStartTime: MaybeNumber = null;
@@ -95,7 +79,7 @@ function Timeline(props: TimelineProps) {
               duration={event.duration}
               left={elementLeftPosition}
               status={eventStatus}
-              start={normalisedStart} // solve issues related to crossing midnight
+              start={normalisedStart} // dataset solves issues related to crossing midnight
               title={event.title}
               width={elementWidth}
             />
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
index be339fe09..0cd335b32 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/viewers/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export default function TimelinePage(props: TimelinePageProps) {
   const { getLocalizedString } = useTranslation();
   const clock = formatTime(time.clock);
 
+  // holds copy of the rundown with only relevant events
   const scopedRundown = useMemo(() => {
     return getScopedRundown(backstageEvents, selectedId);
   }, [backstageEvents, selectedId]);
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/__tests__/rundownCache.test.ts b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/__tests__/rundownCache.test.ts
index 9f2bdc9da..b0cabe21a 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/__tests__/rundownCache.test.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/__tests__/rundownCache.test.ts
@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
 
   it('accounts for gaps in rundown when calculating delays', () => {
     const testRundown: OntimeRundown = [
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Delay, id: 'delay', duration: 200 } as OntimeDelay,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Block, id: 'block', title: 'break' } as OntimeBlock,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Block, id: 'another-block', title: 'another-break' } as OntimeBlock,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '4', timeStart: 600, timeEnd: 700 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '4', timeStart: 600, timeEnd: 700, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
 
   it('handles negative delays', () => {
     const testRundown: OntimeRundown = [
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Delay, id: 'delay', duration: -200 } as OntimeDelay,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Block, id: 'block', title: 'break' } as OntimeBlock,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
       { type: SupportedEvent.Block, id: 'another-block', title: 'another-break' } as OntimeBlock,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '4', timeStart: 600, timeEnd: 700 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '4', timeStart: 600, timeEnd: 700, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
@@ -172,10 +172,17 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
 
   it('calculates total duration', () => {
     const testRundown: OntimeRundown = [
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: 'skipped', skip: true, timeStart: 300, timeEnd: 400 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 200, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 200, timeEnd: 300, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
+      {
+        type: SupportedEvent.Event,
+        id: 'skipped',
+        skip: true,
+        timeStart: 300,
+        timeEnd: 400,
+        duration: 100,
+      } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
@@ -186,9 +193,16 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
   it('calculates total duration with 0 duration events without causing a next day', () => {
     const testRundown: OntimeRundown = [
       { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '1', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 100, duration: 0 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 300 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: 'skipped', skip: true, timeStart: 300, timeEnd: 400 } as OntimeEvent,
-      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500 } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '2', timeStart: 100, timeEnd: 300, duration: 200 } as OntimeEvent,
+      {
+        type: SupportedEvent.Event,
+        id: 'skipped',
+        skip: true,
+        timeStart: 300,
+        timeEnd: 400,
+        duration: 0,
+      } as OntimeEvent,
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Event, id: '3', timeStart: 400, timeEnd: 500, duration: 100 } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
@@ -201,27 +215,28 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
       {
         type: SupportedEvent.Event,
         id: '1',
-        timeStart: new Date(0).setHours(9),
-        timeEnd: new Date(0).setHours(23),
+        timeStart: 9 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        timeEnd: 23 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        duration: (23 - 9) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
       } as OntimeEvent,
       {
         type: SupportedEvent.Event,
         id: '2',
-        timeStart: new Date(0).setHours(9),
-        timeEnd: new Date(0).setHours(23),
+        timeStart: 9 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        timeEnd: 23 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        duration: (23 - 9) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
       } as OntimeEvent,
       {
         type: SupportedEvent.Event,
         id: '3',
-        timeStart: new Date(0).setHours(9),
-        timeEnd: new Date(0).setHours(23),
+        timeStart: 9 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        timeEnd: 23 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        duration: (23 - 9) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
       } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
-    const expectedDuration = (23 - 9 + 48) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR;
-    expect(millisToString(initResult.totalDuration)).toBe('62:00:00');
-    expect(initResult.totalDuration).toBe(expectedDuration);
+    expect(initResult.totalDuration).toBe((23 - 9 + 48) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR);
   });
 
   it('calculates total duration across days', () => {
@@ -229,20 +244,21 @@ describe('generate()', () => {
       {
         type: SupportedEvent.Event,
         id: '1',
-        timeStart: new Date(0).setHours(12),
-        timeEnd: new Date(0).setHours(22),
+        timeStart: 12 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        timeEnd: 22 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        duration: 10 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
       } as OntimeEvent,
       {
         type: SupportedEvent.Event,
         id: '2',
-        timeStart: new Date(0).setHours(22),
-        timeEnd: new Date(0).setHours(8),
+        timeStart: 22 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        timeEnd: 8 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
+        duration: (24 - 22 + 8) * MILLIS_PER_HOUR,
       } as OntimeEvent,
     ];
 
     const initResult = generate(testRundown);
     const expectedDuration = 8 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR + (dayInMs - 12 * MILLIS_PER_HOUR);
-    expect(millisToString(initResult.totalDuration)).toBe('20:00:00');
     expect(initResult.totalDuration).toBe(expectedDuration);
   });
 
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
index 4241310f7..c020d3e4e 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@ import {
   CustomFields,
   isOntimeDelay,
   isOntimeEvent,
+  isPlayableEvent,
   MaybeNumber,
   OntimeEvent,
   OntimeRundown,
   OntimeRundownEntry,
+  PlayableEvent,
 } from 'ontime-types';
-import { generateId, insertAtIndex, reorderArray, swapEventData, checkIsNextDay } from 'ontime-utils';
-
+import { generateId, insertAtIndex, reorderArray, swapEventData, getTimeFromPrevious } from 'ontime-utils';
 import { getDataProvider } from '../../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js';
 import { createPatch } from '../../utils/parser.js';
-import { getTotalDuration } from '../timerUtils.js';
 import { apply } from './delayUtils.js';
 import { handleCustomField, handleLink, hasChanges, isDataStale } from './rundownCacheUtils.js';
 
@@ -83,73 +83,72 @@ export function generate(
   totalDuration = 0;
   totalDelay = 0;
 
-  let accumulatedDelay = 0;
-  let daySpan = 0;
-  let previousStart: MaybeNumber = null;
-  let previousEnd: MaybeNumber = null;
-  let previousDuration: MaybeNumber = null;
+  let previousEntry: PlayableEvent | null = null;
+  let lastEntry: PlayableEvent | null = null;
 
   for (let i = 0; i < initialRundown.length; i++) {
-    const currentEvent = initialRundown[i];
-    const updatedEvent = { ...currentEvent };
+    // TODO: filter properties that should not be persisted (eg: delay)
+    // we assign a reference to the current entry, this will be mutated in place
+    const currentEntry = initialRundown[i];
 
-    if (isOntimeEvent(updatedEvent)) {
-      // 1. handle links
-      handleLink(i, initialRundown, updatedEvent, links);
+    if (isOntimeEvent(currentEntry)) {
+      // 1. handle links - mutates updatedEvent
+      handleLink(i, initialRundown, currentEntry, links);
 
-      // 2. handle custom fields
-      handleCustomField(customFields, customFieldChangelog, updatedEvent, assignedCustomFields);
+      // 2. handle custom fields - mutates updatedEvent
+      handleCustomField(customFields, customFieldChangelog, currentEntry, assignedCustomFields);
 
-      // update the persisted event
-      initialRundown[i] = updatedEvent;
-
-      // we need to generate the skip event, but dont want to use its times
-      if (!updatedEvent.skip) {
-        // update rundown duration
+      // update rundown metadata, it only concerns playable events
+      if (isPlayableEvent(currentEntry)) {
         if (firstStart === null) {
-          firstStart = updatedEvent.timeStart;
+          firstStart = currentEntry.timeStart;
         }
-        lastEnd = updatedEvent.timeEnd;
+        // TODO: carry on last event
+        lastEnd = currentEntry.timeEnd;
 
-        // check if we go over midnight, account for eventual gaps
-        const gapOverMidnight =
-          previousStart !== null && checkIsNextDay(previousStart, updatedEvent.timeStart, previousDuration);
-        const durationOverMidnight = updatedEvent.timeStart > updatedEvent.timeEnd;
-        if (gapOverMidnight || durationOverMidnight) {
-          daySpan++;
+        const timeFromPrevious: number = getTimeFromPrevious(
+          currentEntry.timeStart,
+          currentEntry.timeEnd,
+          previousEntry?.timeStart,
+          previousEntry?.timeEnd,
+          previousEntry?.duration,
+        );
+        totalDuration += timeFromPrevious + currentEntry.duration;
+
+        // remove eventual gaps from the accumulated delay
+        // we only affect positive delays (time forwards)
+        if (totalDelay > 0 && previousEntry) {
+          const gap = Math.max(currentEntry.timeStart - previousEntry.timeEnd, 0);
+          totalDelay = Math.max(totalDelay - gap, 0);
         }
+        // current event delay is the current accumulated delay
+        currentEntry.delay = totalDelay;
+        // keep copy of event
+        previousEntry = currentEntry;
       }
     }
 
     // calculate delays
     // !!! this must happen after handling the links
-    if (isOntimeDelay(updatedEvent)) {
-      accumulatedDelay += updatedEvent.duration;
-    } else if (isOntimeEvent(updatedEvent) && !updatedEvent.skip) {
-      const eventStart = updatedEvent.timeStart;
-
-      // we only affect positive delays (time forwards)
-      if (accumulatedDelay > 0 && previousEnd) {
-        const gap = Math.max(eventStart - previousEnd, 0);
-        accumulatedDelay = Math.max(accumulatedDelay - gap, 0);
-      }
-      updatedEvent.delay = accumulatedDelay;
-      previousStart = updatedEvent.timeStart;
-      previousEnd = updatedEvent.timeEnd;
-      previousDuration = updatedEvent.duration;
+    if (isOntimeDelay(currentEntry)) {
+      totalDelay += currentEntry.duration;
     }
 
-    order.push(updatedEvent.id);
-    rundown[updatedEvent.id] = { ...updatedEvent };
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-labels -- dev code path
+    DEV: {
+      if (totalDuration < 0) {
+        throw new Error('rundownCache.generate: invalid data');
+      }
+    }
+
+    // add id to order
+    order.push(currentEntry.id);
+    // add entry to rundown
+    rundown[currentEntry.id] = currentEntry;
   }
 
   isStale = false;
   customFieldChangelog.clear();
-  totalDelay = accumulatedDelay;
-  if (lastEnd !== null && firstStart !== null) {
-    totalDuration = getTotalDuration(firstStart, lastEnd, daySpan);
-  }
-
   return { rundown, order, links, totalDelay, totalDuration, assignedCustomProperties: assignedCustomFields };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/server/src/stores/runtimeState.ts b/apps/server/src/stores/runtimeState.ts
index 9ee612b7c..b5cd5ece9 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/stores/runtimeState.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/stores/runtimeState.ts
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ const initialRuntime: Runtime = {
   numEvents: 0, // change initiated by user
   offset: 0, // changes at runtime
   plannedStart: 0, // only changes if event changes
-  plannedEnd: 0, // only changes if event changes
+  plannedEnd: 0, // only changes if event changes, overflows over dayInMs
   actualStart: null, // set once we start the timer
-  expectedEnd: null, // changes with runtime, based on offset
+  expectedEnd: null, // changes with runtime, based on offset, overflows over dayInMs
 } as const;
 
 const initialTimer: TimerState = {
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export type RuntimeState = {
   timer: TimerState;
   // private properties of the timer calculations
   _timer: {
-    forceFinish: MaybeNumber; // wether we should declare an event as finished, will contain the finish time
+    forceFinish: MaybeNumber; // whether we should declare an event as finished, will contain the finish time
     totalDelay: number; // this value comes from rundown service
     pausedAt: MaybeNumber;
     secondaryTarget: MaybeNumber;
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ type RundownData = {
  * @param playableRundown
  */
 export function updateRundownData(rundownData: RundownData) {
+  // we keep this in private state since there is no UI use case for it
   runtimeState._timer.totalDelay = rundownData.totalDelay;
 
   runtimeState.runtime.numEvents = rundownData.numEvents;
diff --git a/packages/utils/index.ts b/packages/utils/index.ts
index faaf9b656..4800c38f0 100644
--- a/packages/utils/index.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/index.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ export { validateEndAction, validateTimerType } from './src/validate-events/vali
 // feature business logic - rundown
 export { checkIsNow } from './src/date-utils/checkIsNow.js';
 export { checkIsNextDay } from './src/date-utils/checkIsNextDay.js';
+export { checkOverlap } from './src/date-utils/checkOverlap.js';
+export { getTimeFromPrevious } from './src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.js';
 
 // feature business logic - spreadsheet import
 export {
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkIsNextDay.ts b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkIsNextDay.ts
index 66bb2c6e1..6e337dd36 100644
--- a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkIsNextDay.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkIsNextDay.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@
  * 09:00 - 10:00
  * 09:30 - 10:30
  */
-export function checkIsNextDay(previousStart: number, timeStart: number, previousDuration?: number): boolean {
+export function checkIsNextDay(previousStart: number, timeStart: number, previousDuration: number): boolean {
   return previousDuration === 0 ? false : timeStart <= previousStart;
 }
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.test.ts b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..504ce00d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import { checkOverlap } from './checkOverlap';
+
+describe('checkOverlap', () => {
+  it('should return true if events fully overlap', () => {
+    expect(checkOverlap(1000, 2000, 1000, 2000)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should return true if one of the events is inside the other', () => {
+    expect(checkOverlap(1000, 2000, 1000, 1000)).toBe(true);
+    expect(checkOverlap(1000, 2000, 1500, 1750)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("should return false if events don't overlap", () => {
+    expect(checkOverlap(1000, 2000, 2000, 3000)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.ts b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..976f4468c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/checkOverlap.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/**
+ * Check if two Ontime events overlap
+ * @link https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3269434/whats-the-most-efficient-way-to-test-if-two-ranges-overlap
+ * We use the deconstructed times to facilitate implementation in UI
+ */
+export function checkOverlap(
+  previousStart: number,
+  previousEnd: number,
+  currentStart: number,
+  currentEnd: number,
+): boolean {
+  // deal with simple case where the event is later
+  if (currentStart >= previousEnd) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // at this point we know there may be an overlap
+  return Math.max(previousStart, currentStart) - Math.min(previousEnd, currentEnd) <= 0;
+}
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.test.ts b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30e75d524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { getTimeFromPrevious } from './getTimeFromPrevious';
+
+describe('getTimeFromPrevious', () => {
+  it('returns the time elapsed (gap or overlap) from the previous', () => {
+    const previousStart = 69600000; // 19:20
+    const previousEnd = 71700000; // 19:55
+    const previousDuration = 2100000; // 35 minutes
+    const currentStart = 75600000; // 21:00
+    const currentEnd = 81000000; // 22:30
+    const expected = 75600000 - 71700000; // current staart - previousEnd
+
+    expect(getTimeFromPrevious(currentStart, currentEnd, previousStart, previousEnd, previousDuration)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.ts b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39b877615
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/utils/src/date-utils/getTimeFromPrevious.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { checkIsNextDay } from './checkIsNextDay';
+import { checkOverlap } from './checkOverlap';
+import { dayInMs } from './conversionUtils';
+
+/**
+ * Utility returns the time elapsed (gap or overlap) from the previous
+ * It uses deconstructed parameters to simplify implementation in UI
+ */
+export function getTimeFromPrevious(
+  currentStart: number,
+  currentEnd: number,
+  previousStart?: number,
+  previousEnd?: number,
+  previousDuration?: number,
+): number {
+  // there is no previous event
+  if (previousStart == null || previousEnd == null || previousDuration == null) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  // event is linked to previous
+  if (currentStart === previousEnd) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  // event is the day after
+  if (checkIsNextDay(previousStart, currentStart, previousDuration)) {
+    // duration is difference between normalised start and previous end
+    return currentStart + dayInMs - previousEnd;
+  }
+
+  // event has a gap from previous
+  if (currentStart > previousEnd) {
+    return currentStart - previousEnd;
+  }
+
+  // event overlaps with previous
+  if (checkOverlap(previousStart, previousEnd, currentStart, currentEnd)) {
+    // duration is the amount of time the current event has over the previous
+    // this value must be capped at 0
+    return Math.max(currentEnd - previousEnd, 0);
+  }
+
+  // we need to make sure we return a number, but there are no business cases for this
+  return 0;
+}