EastEnders returns to production as lockdown restrictions ease

The cast are back in Albert Square as the soap resumes filming under strict new guidelines
BBC/Jack Barnes
Kimberley Bond29 June 2020

Production has now resumed on EastEnders after the popular soap had to halt filming in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

The BBC One serial drama will be sticking to stringent social distancing measures and government guidelines in order to get the soap back on screen, after the BBC ran out of new episodes earlier this month.

In order to get the soap back up to its regular scheduling of four times a week, bosses have since confirmed episodes will now have a slightly shorter runtime of 20 minutes.

Jon Sen, Executive Producer of EastEnders, explained to press: “Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure.

Luisa Bradshaw White and Danny Dyer returned to filming
BBC

“Since we postponed filming we’ve been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week – as EastEnders should be.

EastEnders 35th Anniversary Portraits

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“Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20 minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.”

Some of the EastEnders crew have gained invaluable experience in socially-distanced filming, with a portion of the team working on the BBC’s revival of Talking Heads. Executives are hoping the team will be able to build on these techniques in order for them to work on a larger scale for the EastEnders cast.

Jake Wood and Adam Woodyatt have also returned to set
BBC

Among those returning for filming include Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter and Luisa Bradshaw-White as Tina Carter.

Adam Woodyatt, (Ian Beale) Milly Zero (Dotty Cotton) and Jake Wood (Max Branning) were also all back filming under social distancing rules, alongside crew.

EastEnders is the latest soap to head back to production, after ITV mainstays Coronation Street and Emmerdale resumed filming earlier this month.

EastEnders usually airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One

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