Coronation Street to resume filming next week

New rules will be in place to ensure the cast and crew observe social distancing rules 
Returning to filming: The cast, seen here in the soap's 10,000th episode, will be back on set next week
PA
Rachel McGrath1 June 2020

Coronation Street will resume filming next week, soap bosses have said.

The soap's cast and crew have today returned to work ahead of filming recommencing on Tuesday, June 9.

The production team will spend the next week familiarising themselves with new rules on health and safety, to ensure social distancing is maintained.

The new safety protocols introduced at the Trafford Studios in Manchester include a fixed cohort system with crew members designated to a specific studio space, with social distancing in place, as well as daily temperature checks for staff by specialist medical advisors.

Some of the soap's older or more vulnerable cast and crew will not be returning yet (ITV/Danielle Baguley/PA Wire)
ITV/Danielle Baguley/PA Wire

Daily intensive cleaning and sanitisation of filming areas will also be mandatory, and members of the cast and office staff will continue to work from home to ensure fewer people in the building.

While many of our favourite Weatherfield residents will be back on screens, there will still be some of the cast still missing.

Coronation Street stars, alongside any members of crew who are over 70, or have an underlying health condition, will not be on set in the initial period of filming.

Other members of cast or crew are considered 'clinically vulnerable' will follow an individual risk assessment process, which will enable them to return to work if it is safe for them to do so.

Filming schedules mean three episodes a week will be produced and bosses wil avoid having to take the soap off air for the first time in 60 years.

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ITV’s managing director of continuing drama and head of ITV in the north John Whiston said: “I’m sure our audience will appreciate having the show they love continue on air.

“For many who have written in, it is a vital escape from all the fears and stresses this virus brings in its wake.”

Coronation Street showrunner Iain MacLeod added: "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 stars are now gearing up to return to the studios, with Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland in the beloved soap, saying he is "ready" to get back filming.

"It’s going to be different, but I think we’re all ready to get back now, get back to shooting the show again," he said on ITV's Lorraine programme.

"It’s great news for everyone because I think everyone at first was a bit worried we might have to go off air but thankfully we can go back and we can get back to filming again."

Addtional reporting by Press Association

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