EastEnders is making official plans to return to filming in June, and it has now revealed that future episodes will reference the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
While nothing can be set in stone due to changing government guidelines, the long-running BBC soap recently revealed that it's been given the go-ahead when it comes to resuming production.
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However, the show anticipates that the complications will mean scenes take longer to shoot and edit than regularly staged scenes, and there will be a period when it is off the air completely before the newly filmed content makes its way to the small screen.
The soap explained that producers and the UK broadcaster are in the very early stages of working out what cast and crew will be physically able to do on set.
Actors will reportedly be given make-up tutorials by professionals, in order to ensure that they are camera-ready between takes and strict social distancing rules will be adhered to on set.
Related: EastEnders star Scott Maslen hopes soap will be on "frontline" of shows returning to filming
It's expected that there will be far fewer extras, too, so that there are the least amount of people possible in one area at any given time.
Scripts and storylines will also need to be altered to reflect the time in between production halting in March and when it eventually picks back up again, and while COVID-19 will be referenced, it is not expected to be a major focus of storylines.
EastEnders continues with new episodes on Monday (May 18) at 8pm and Tuesday (May 19) at 7.30pm on BBC One.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing.
For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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