EastEnders and Top Gear to resume production

BBC Studios is to restart production on EastEnders and Top Gear next month under social distancing and with limited crews.

Writing in The Telegraph today in a column subsequently published as a BBC blog, director of content Charlotte Moore announced the move to resume the production of BBC1’s soap and Freddie Flintoff-helmed show, after filming was halted in March.

“We’re also exploring ways to restart filming on more dramas and other major BBC shows as soon as possible,” wrote Moore.

Dramas such as World Productions’ Line of Duty and Caryn Mandabach/Tiger Aspect‘s Peaky Blinders were in the midst of production when the government announced the lockdown.

“This is great news for viewers, but it’s also essential for the success of the many independent companies around the country who make these programmes and who have felt the economic shockwaves of this pandemic,” Moore continued.

“It’s a sign of what we do to support this sector in every part of the UK that getting our shows back on the road will include filming from Cardiff to Dumbarton, Birmingham to Belfast.”

Moore stressed that the productions will be working within government guidelines and crews will be “strictly limited.”

She highlighted the broadcaster’s coverage of VE Day and the Hospital: Coronavirus Special as “examples of how well we can rise to the creative and technical challenge.”

The BBC’s announcement comes days after the government unveiled that film and television crews could restart production under social distancing, with guidelines expected to be published this week.

“The government is working closely with the screen sector to understand how different types of productions can comply with social distancing guidelines, and give confidence to people in the TV and film industries that there are safe ways in which they can return to work,” a DCMS spokesperson told broadcastnow’s sister site screendaily.com