Home and Away and Neighbours are once again being screened five times a week in the UK after both sets were seriously disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
In what is a surefire sign that production is slowly returning to normal, both shows will this month return to their original TV schedules, before the pandemic broke out.
Each series had been cut back to just two episodes a week, after coronavirus forced production to stop, according to a report by The Sun on Thursday.
Back on the air: Home and Away and Neighbours are once again being screened five times a week in the UK after both sets were seriously disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, Neighbours
Both shows had their TV schedules limited to make sure they had enough episodes to last the pandemic, despite filming months in advance.
‘Neighbours and Home and Away will return to five episodes a week from Monday 11th May, resuming their usual Monday to Friday slots,’ Britain’s Channel 5 told The Sun.
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph last week, filming resumed on Neighbours on Monday, with extreme safety precautions in place.
Getting back to normal: In what is a surefire sign that production is slowly returning to normal, both shows will this month return to their original TV schedules, before the pandemic broke out. Pictured, Home and Away
All staff now have their temperature checked as they arrive on set, no mobile phones are allowed and communal areas have been closed.
Only essential cast and crew are allowed on set, visitors are no longer allowed, there are new hygiene protocols in place, and scenes have been rewritten to ensure minimal physical interaction.
‘In some cases, cast will be scheduled separately but edited together to give the illusion of larger groups,’ Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison told The Daily Telegraph.
Restrictions: Each series had been cut back to just two episodes a week, after coronavirus forced production to stop, according to a report by The Sun on Thursday. Pictured, Neighbours
‘There are no scenes that require intimacy or physical contact.
‘We are in the fortunate position of having an enormous studio and back lot and our storylines can be adapted with minimal impact to the show.’
While filming is yet to commence on Home and Away, the show’s writers have already returned to work.
Stretching it out: Both shows had their TV schedules limited to make sure they had enough episodes to last the pandemic, despite filming months in advance. Pictured: Home and Away
Production was stopped on Neighbours on March 18, while Home and Away announced their closure on March 22.
‘Seven Studios advised today that it would halt filming of Home and Away immediately,’ a Channel Seven spokesperson told TV Tonight at the time.
‘It confirmed that no cast or crew had tested positive for COVID-19, but that the decision was made due to the increasing logistical hurdles related to the COVID-19 situation.’
‘Neighbours and Home and Away will return to five episodes a week from Monday 11th May, resuming their usual Monday to Friday slots,’ Britain’s Channel 5 told The Sun. Pictured: Neighbours
Speaking to TV Tonight on Friday, Home and Away star Georgie Parker revealed there was no confirmed date for when filming would resume on the long-running soap.
‘We were working right up until about [four]-and-a-half weeks ago, and we were doing really well,’ the 55-year-old actress said.
‘We had adjusted filming in a very effective manner, adhering to as much spatial distancing as was possible.
On hold: Speaking to TV Tonight on Friday, Home and Away star Georgie Parker (right) revealed there was no confirmed date for when filming would resume on the long-running soap
‘If they take the restrictions back a step or two, we will be able to resume filming. So we’re just waiting for that. We’re all guessing June, July.’
Neighbours is filmed in Melbourne, while Home and Away is filmed in Sydney, with both shows subjected to different state restrictions.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Channel Seven and Network Ten for comment.
Lockdown: Production was stopped on Neighbours on March 18, while Home and Away announced their closure on March 22. Pictured: Home and Away