Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks bosses have announced production crew will return to the set in Liverpool in mid-June and filming will resume in full from July.
The Channel 4 show, which is currently airing two nights a week, will then increase its output to four episodes a week from September with an aim to return to its full five episodes a week in 2021.
In recent days, Hollyoaks has been subject to off-camera scrutiny, after actresses Rachel Adedeji and Laila Rouass accused show bosses of racism and sexism.
New beginning: Hollyoaks bosses have announced they will start filming again this month in Liverpool and will fully return to set in July
This led to production company Lime Pictures releasing a statement which read: ‘Lime Pictures strives to have zero tolerance of racism or any form of discrimination across all of its shows but it is clear we have further work to do. We must stamp out implicit bias which means calling out racism wherever and whenever we see it.
‘We will continue to add to our action plan as we continue and broaden our dialogue with cast and staff. We are reaching out to all of our cast and staff that have raised matters to make sure that we address individual issues and concerns. We have asked all cast, staff and freelancers to share with us any further issues of concern or instances of unacceptable behaviour that they have not previously raised.
‘We are working with unconscious bias trainers to augment Lime’s all staff training to help address concerns raised by cast and staff. All BAME staff, freelancers and cast will be offered mentoring from Lime’s senior management.’
Emmerdale
Emmerdale has already started filming again, with a small cast and crew returning to production in late May.
The soap has begun a phased return in order to minimise risk of infection at the studio while the outdoor set has been revamped.
New safety measures have been put in place at ITV studios including medical screening, safe-distance queuing and ambulances on set amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The channel’s Health and Safety team and medical advisers have been working closely with the government to consult on social distancing guidelines to ensure the team are working in accordance with return-to-production protocols.
ITV also revealed that they would not have any shoots on location, while scripts have been adapted to include fewer scenes and a small number of actors so that the cameras don’t need to be moved on a regular basis.
First ones back: Emmerdale has already started filming again, with a small cast and crew returning to production in late May
Coronation Street
Cast returned to set on June 9 to produce new episodes, with a plan to make enough shows to continue airing three episodes a week to ensure the soap remains on-screen in July.
ITV bosses also confirmed that older cast members will be kept at home during the first few weeks of filming, with star Andy Whyment revealing that kissing scenes will be banned in accordance with new social distancing measures.
Coronation Street bosses confirmed that the soap’s production team began a health and safety induction to familiarise themselves with the new protocols that are now in place throughout the studios and on set.
Crew have also begun preparations to ensure filming will resume as scheduled at the studios in Manchester.
Return: Coronation Street stars returned to set on June 9 to produce new episodes after the shutdown (Ian Bartholomew and Shelley King pictured)