EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street and Emmerdale team warned by ITV bosses after ‘alarming increase in Covid cases’ causes havoc with filming
- Head of ITV in the North said conditions on the soaps are currently worse than in January when the Kent variant of the virus was spreading
- Bosses halted filming on both shows for two weeks at the beginning of the year ‘as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic’
The cast and crew of Coronation Street and Emmerdale have been warned to stick to precautions amid an ‘alarming number’ of Covid cases on both shows.
The soaps both shut down production during the first coronavirus outbreak last year and are now back to filming with safety guidelines in place.
In an email sent to crew on both shows obtained by MailOnline, Head of ITV in the North John Whiston said conditions on the soaps are currently worse than in January when the Kent variant of the virus was spreading and the shows shut down production for two weeks.
Safety first: An ITV boss has asked the cast and crew of Coronation Street and Emmerdale to stick to precautions amid an ‘alarming number’ of Covid cases on both shows
Mr Whiston notes the spread of the virus has been playing havoc with schedules on both shows over the last few weeks.
He also advised crew that, despite the easing of restrictions and many people having been vaccinated, the virus is still in circulation.
He said coronavirus is not an illness anyone would want to get, even if they are vaccinated.
The TV boss also said both shows are about to go into critical weeks of filming ahead of Super Soap Week, a week long stint of explosive episodes.
Production: The soaps both shut down production during the first coronavirus outbreak last year and are now back to filming with safety guidelines in place (Dominic Brunt and Lucy Pargeter filming Emmerdale)
Mr Whiston said Super Soap Week is more important than ever this year to remind audiences the shows ‘are back’ and reiterated they must do everything they can to stick to the schedule.
A representative for ITV declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
It comes after bosses halted filming on both shows for two weeks in January ‘as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic’.
Bosses made the decision to stop shooting on Corrie so the cast and crew could have a short break due to the pressures of filming during the coronavirus crisis.
Cases: Head of ITV in the North John Whiston said conditions on the soaps are currently worse than in Janury when the Kent variant of the virus was spreading and the shows shut down production for two weeks
ITV bosses suspended filming on Emmerdale after a production team member contracted COVID-19.
An ITV spokersperson told MailOnline at the time: ‘Coronation Street will pause filming from next Monday, 25 January for two weeks to undertake some rewriting of stories and scripts as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘We will also be taking the opportunity to review all health and safety requirements to ensure we continue to provide a safe working environment for the cast, crew and production team.
‘This pause in filming won’t affect our ability to deliver six episodes of Coronation Street each week.’
Social distancing: Following the unprecedented break for the soaps, Corrie and Emmerdale went back into production in June with strict social distancing employed
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