Holby City resumes filming with a special coronavirus episode after a four-month hiatus

Holby City has resumed filming on Monday after a long hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The long-running BBC drama paused filming in March but it has now restarted, with the cast and crew working on a special episode that sees the hospital gripped by the health crisis.

The special episode will see the hospital’s CEO Max, played by Jo Martin, wrestle to keep the hospital in control and her staff safe as the virus takes hold. 

Ric, played by Hugh Quarshie, then goes head to head with Max in the explosive return for the medical drama. 

The production team have developed new safety protocols to ensure the actors and crew will be safe on set. 

They will have to abide by social distancing, similar to other soaps which have also resumed filming.

Kate Oates, the head of continuing drama at BBC Studios, said: ‘It’s with great pleasure that we open the doors at Elstree to welcome back the exceptional cast and crew of Holby City.

‘We have some gripping stories to tell as we explore how the lives of our characters have been irrevocably changed since the start of the pandemic – and how our heroes battle against the odds, come what may.’

The show is set to return to air later this year with an episode duration time of 40 minutes, which is slightly shorter than before. 

Holby City is one of the last soaps to resume filming, with Emmerdale the first to restart production back in May.

Earlier this month, Hollyoaks resumed filming after it was forced to suspend production for four months. 

Most sets now require actors to socially distance, with camera trickery being employed to keep the illusion of proximity. 

Some soaps have banned its older and more vulnerable cast members from coming to set as they seek to keep productions running.