‘Coronation Street’ begins filming again after coronavirus break

Coronation Street will be one of the first British drama series to resume production.

Filming on all movies and television drama in the UK was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Shoots were suspended on shows like Call the Midwife and Peaky Blinders, while the next season of The Crown only just wrapped in time.

ITV has just announced that the cast and crew of Coronation Street have now returned to work following an enforced production break.

The Manchester-set soap opera airs on ITV in the UK and is available to watch on BritBox in the US.

Today the production team took part in a health and safety induction to get used to the new protocols on set, with everyone having their temperatures checked daily by specialised medical advisors.

Filming will recommence next Tuesday at the show’s studios in Trafford, Manchester.

However, rather than the usual six episodes a week, the new recording pattern will initially only produce three weekly instalments.

Coronation Street will celebrate its 60th anniversary this December and the return to filming will ensure that the show stays on air in July instead of running out of episodes.

Corrie is the UK’s longest-running drama series, having run continuously since December 1960.

Unfortunately cast members aged over 70 or with underlying health conditions won’t be back on screen for the time being.

Series producer Iain MacLeod commented: “The whole team at Coronation Street has pulled together to generate an ingenious, intricate set of protocols, to allow filming to restart as safely as humanly possible. We are really pleased to able to resume making the nation’s favourite soap at a time when people need the reassurance of their regular Corrie fix more than ever.

“Safety remains our number one priority and we are under no illusions about the challenges still facing us and the nation as a whole. However, I can assure viewers that Corrie’s ever-present humour and brilliant storytelling will be there in abundance in the episodes due to begin filming next week and beyond.”

Coronation Street aired its 10,000th episode earlier this year.

The makers of Call the Midwife are still hoping they can film this year’s Christmas special, but the final season of The Crown is likely to be delayed.

Classic episodes of Coronation Street are available on DVD on Amazon.