News just in on the BBC website that the very popular TV soap which started in 1985, EastEnders, is to halt filming “until further notice” amid the coronavirus outbreak.
In light of the postponement of filming the BBC has also confirmed it will reduce the number of episodes broadcast to two per week.
“In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice,” a BBC spokesperson said.
“The decision was made after the latest government update.“
The reduction in the number of broadcast episodes will allow the BBC to make the existing recorded episodes last for “as long as possible“, the statement said.
“We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England,” it added.
Other UK TV programmes stopping filming due to corona virus include Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Welsh soap Pobol y Cwm and Scottish drama River City, the corporation confirmed: “it has decided that filming on all BBC Studios continuing dramas will be postponed“.
With this news coming, here at Blazing Minds, we are expecting similar updates from other TV shows on other networks, currently Emmerdale and even Coronation Street on ITV are continuing with filming but the number of shows broadcasts during a week are being reduced, it looks like those big DVD and Blu-ray collection most of us have will be making the most of those soon, along with online streaming such as Prime Video and NetFlix!
UPDATE 22/3/2020
More shows have been axed, Loose Women and Lorraine are due to halt filming with immediate effect, ITV bosses have announced. The cancellation comes as a preventative measure amid the coronavirus outbreak.
This evening, show bosses decided the live shows would not air from Monday, March 23 onwards, in an effort to protect the health of the crew.
Their statement read: “‘ITV Daytime has taken the decision to stop broadcasting Lorraine and Loose Women live from Monday 23rd March. This decision has been made to minimise the number of staff travelling in and out of our studios and working together on shift at any one time.
“We’re focusing our efforts on providing to viewers the latest news on the rapidly changing situation which aims to offer some stability and continuity in all our lives whilst so many of us are at home right now.
“That’s why we have taken this tough decision to protect our GMB News programme in the morning and keep This Morning on air for as long as possible.“
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
