EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale confirm filming WON’T be affected by third lockdown

Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale have confirmed that filming won’t be affected by the government’s third COVID-19 lockdown.

The soaps confirmed production will continue despite the introduction of new restrictions, after resuming filming with strict social measures over the summer. 

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England would be placed in lockdown once again to try and curb the rise in coronavirus cases, with all schools and non-essential businesses ordered to close.

An EastEnders representative told MailOnline: ‘In accordance with the government guidelines, EastEnders will continue filming during lockdown. 

‘Production will continue to strictly adhere to the social distancing and safety measures in place.’

An ITV spokesperson also confirmed to MailOnline that both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are ‘continuing to film in accordance with government guidelines.’

While Hollyoaks are yet to confirm whether filming will continue, Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for digital, culture, media and sport, said production on film and TV is allowed to continue during lockdown.

Business as usual: The soaps confirmed production will continue despite the introduction of new restrictions, after resuming filming with strict social measures (Emmerdale pictured)

This is mainly due to sets have strict social distancing and testing measures in place, making them far safer then during the first lockdown in March.

He tweeted: ‘For the arts/creative sectors, this means you should work from home unless you can’t – exemptions include for training and rehearsal of performances, recording studios and film & TV production.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Hollyoaks for comment. 

All of the UK’s biggest soaps were forced to suspend production in March as COVID-19 cases increased, and in a bid to ration episodes that had already been filmed, many reduced their weekly broadcasts. 

The new normal: All of the UK’s biggest soaps were forced to suspend production in March, and gradually resumed filming over the summer (Corrie filming pictured)

Coronation Street and Emmerdale aired just three episodes a week, while EastEnders  and Hollyoaks reduced to two.

Emmerdale was the first to resume filming in May with a series of lockdown-themed episodes, while Corrie stars returned to set in June. 

This meant both ITV soaps were able to continue airing without a gap in the television schedule, and have both since returned to airing six episodes a week.

 Return! While Corrie and Emmerdale continued airing without a gap in the schedule, EastEnders was forced to take a three-month break before filming resumed

EastEnders resumed filming in July, and have used clever editing measures, stand-ins and perspex screens to hide the use of social distancing during filming.

Cast members also have their temperature checked and are ordered to regularly sanitise their hands during filming. 

The BBC soap was forced to take a three-month break from screens due to the delay in filming, and since returning in September has aired four times a week, with shortened episodes. 

Hollyoaks resumed filming in July, after cutting down to just two episodes a week, and after going off-air that month returned in September, airing four episodes a week.

Strict: Cast members have adhered to strict social distancing measures since filming resumed, with temperature checks and regular sanitising in place