EASTENDERS builders are back to work in full force following lockdown restrictions.
Construction work is continuing on set of the new £87million site at the Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, opposite the current set.
The workmen were seen back on the new site of the Eastenders set working hard on the mammoth job after lockdown.
Observing the government’s orders, the builders made sure they kept 2m apart and adhered to social distancing.
Major work is being carried out on the BBC soap’s iconic buildings including The Arches, Kath’s Cafe and The Queen Vic.
The iconic pub is finally taking shape after months of continuous works from builders.
EastEnders fans will also get some new additions to the Square, with a block of luxury flats, a railway tunnel and line also being built on the plot.
Bosses updated the set to make Walford HD-ready, which has gone £27million over budget and taken two and a half extra years to complete.
The current set was built in 1984 when the show originally launched and was supposed to be used for two years.
EastEnders isn’t currently filmed in HD as show bosses fear it would highlight the materials used for the set to viewers at home.
Instead, the new set – known as the ‘front lot’ – will be built from brick and will allow the show to be filmed in high definition.
There will also be a ‘back lot’ which will give the show extra locations to film in and will “better reflect modern East End London”.
The BBC said in a statement: “The set of EastEnders was built in 1984 and only intended for use for two years.
“Over 30 years later, the show remains one of the BBC’s flagship programmes and yet is filming from a set that is no longer fit for purpose.
Studios are in talks about reopening if they can stick to the social distancing rules and stay two metres apart, ministers said.
Shooting of new scenes for soaps and many other screen favourites had been halted because of the Covid restrictions.
The BBC has suspended production of EastEnders and slashed the number of episodes it shows each week from four to two to try to eke out the Albert Square storylines it had already filmed.
ITV stopped filming Corrie and Emmerdale and also reduced the number of episodes per week.
And all movie production has been halted since the country went into lockdown on March 23.
But Downing Street’s roadmap to ease the tough coronavirus restrictions could clear the sector to head back to work.
A Department for Culture spokesman said: “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.”
It is believed the first to head back will be technicians involved in editing shows and films to get them on screen.
Fans were quick to spot another hilarious blunder on the BBC One soap last night as it was revealed the Minute Mart’s chocolates are actually from Tesco.
