Emmerdale cast member tested for coronavirus after displaying symptoms on set, says soap boss
AN Emmerdale cast member was tested for coronavirus after turning up for filming with a temperature. ITV soaps boss John Whiston revealed new testing procedures brought in to protect cast and crew had flagged up an actor who arrived with a temperature. Asked about what would happen if a Coronation Street star turned up to […]
AN Emmerdale cast member was tested for coronavirus after turning up for filming with a temperature.
ITV soaps boss John Whiston revealed new testing procedures brought in to protect cast and crew had flagged up an actor who arrived with a temperature.
Asked about what would happen if a Coronation Street star turned up to film with symptoms he said during an online press event: “This has happened on Emmerdale already.
“So somebody has come in and had a high temperature, they’ve gone home and logged on to the NHS, got a test done and they come back negative.
“I think that is reassuring and in most cases that will probably be what happens.
“We’ve got protocols if somebody does test positive for it and protocols for the governments track and trace.
“We’ve thought it all through but obviously it is concerning and we want to keep everybody as safe as possible. I think that the temperature checking is pretty standard internationally and even more so in Britain.”
The ITV soaps are both back filming on a phased return now – with Corrie resuming earlier this week.
While most of the programme’s cast and crew are returning to work, some are unable to do so because of their age or underlying health conditions.
Series producer Iain MacLeod said that the pandemic has presented the makers of the soap with the “opportunity” to explore new production methods.
He said: “We are very keen to make sure we keep as many of our wonderful cast and brilliant characters on screen as we can, really.
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“In some cases they physically can’t be in the building but I still think I really want to make sure that we keep sight of them and I know the audience will thank us for keeping sight of them.”
He added that those who cannot be on set are “all very well-loved, fantastic characters and performers”.
“We are trying to sort of take advantage of the new post-pandemic world and some elements of that have become really normal for a lot of us, which is to say video calling and video conferencing,” he said.
“Plans are afoot in that regard and I am very aware that there’s a lot of extremely talented people that due to current guidelines can’t be in the building, so yes we are keen to see them as much as we can, as much for the viewers’ sake as anybody because they are all brilliant.”