Coronavirus: BBC halts filming on Eastenders and other popular dramas
18 March 2020, 11:34
The BBC says it has halted filming on Eastenders and will be reducing the number of episodes it broadcasts a week amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the broadcaster said the suspension on filming would be "until further notice" following latest advice from the government.
It would also be reducing the number of episodes played per week to two, to spread out the series "for as long as possible".
Episodes will now air on Mondays at 8pm, and Tuesdays at 7.30pm.
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Sadly @bbceastenders the latest to close due to #COVID2019 Thinking of all my friends on the show who must be pretty anxious right now.
— Tracy Brabin MP 🌹 (@TracyBrabin) March 18, 2020
A further statement said that filming would also stop on other popular dramas, including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Pobol y Cwm and River City.
"We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and public health organisations," the corporation said.
Shadow secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Tracy Brabin, who also played Roxy Drake on Eastenders, said she was "thinking of all my friends" on the show "who must be pretty anxious right now."
