Soaps

UK government 'wants Coronation Street back on air quickly'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: April 25 2020 | 11:15

Last updated: April 26 2020 | 20:59

ITV's chief executive says that the UK government are keen to get Coronation Street filming new episodes as soon as possible.

The UK government is keen to get the cast of Coronation Street back filming new episodes as soon as possible, according to ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall.

All UK soaps were forced to shut down production last month after the government imposed a lockdown due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

ITV began rationing episodes of Corrie as a result but the show is still likely to drop off air in July when all episodes recorded before the shutdown have been broadcast.

The government is keen to keep up the nation's morale as the lockdown continues, however, and thinks that soaps and Premier League football could be instrumental.

This stance could mean that the Corrie cast become classified as key workers, allowing them to return to work while still following social distancing guidelines.

"ITV's role is to inform people but also entertain and engage them – and that is vital at the moment," McCall told commercial partners in a conference call this week.

"The government is very keen for us to bring back the soaps as soon as we can, while observing the social distancing measures."

Measures under consideration include one-way staircases on set and the introduction of perspex screens in the editing suites.