Emmerdale will reduce to two episodes a week but remain on air after becoming the first British soap to resume filming

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EMMERDALE will reduce to two episodes a week but remain on air after becoming the first British soap to resume filming

For a short period from the 8th June the ITV soap will show just two episodes a week in order to stay on the air.

Emmerdale has resumed filming

A statement from ITV reads: “Emmerdale will alter its transmission pattern to two episodes from week beginning 8 June in order to stay on air.

“The episodes scheduled will be those filmed featuring characters in lockdown.

“They involve much loved characters – Sam and Lydia, Cain and Aaron, Mandy and Vinny, Marlon, Al and Ellis, Nicola and Jimmy and Chas and Paddy – experiencing the trials and tribulations of lockdown.

“The two episodes will air on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm on ITV for three weeks, before Emmerdale will then resume a three episode each week pattern.”

Jeff Hordley will feature in one of the special episodes

Last week Emmerdale returned to filming after shutting down production over the pandemic.

The soaps production team commenced a phased return to filming by recording the six new episodes featuring characters during the lockdown.

However it will not be a return to normal with the first six episodes shot featuring only two or three characters.

HOAR Online revealed that bosses hope the six special episodes will bridge the gap between pre-shot episodes and a fuller return to filming and avoid the soap going off air.

He will appear opposite Danny Miller in their two hander

Filming was underway on Wednesday 20 May at Emmerdale’s studios in Leeds involving a pared back crew to ensure health and safety protocols and social distancing measures are strictly adhered to by the team on set. The six episodes will be recorded over a two week filming period.

New ways of working to protect the crew and cast have been introduced by ITV Studios in accordance with pan-industry return-to- production protocols for TV drama which ITV’s Health and Safety team and medical advisers have been working on in consultation with the Government.

The guidelines underpin everything ITV Studios are putting in place for the cast, crew and production team to adhere to whilst filming.

The cast and crew are all socially distancing during filming

The measures will include social distancing, filming units staying together to work in designated studios with crew using their own sanitised equipment, office staff continuing to work from home to ensure fewer people on the ground, no location filming, scripts featuring a smaller number of actors and fewer scenes to avoid camera moves.

The crew have also attended a meeting with the company’s medical adviser and participated in a health and safety induction which saw the new working environment procedures explained in detail.

The new episodes will ensure Emmerdale stays on air in June bringing the audience topical stories from much loved characters.

Inevitably, with time on their hands the characters will begin to think about what’s important in life.

We’ll see resentments and past feuds resurface, old wounds further exposed, relationships scrutinised, with doubts and insecurities laid bare.

Some seize the opportunity lockdown presents to heal divisions, whilst others get some sizzle back into their lives!

With the backdrop of the pandemic, the characters also reflect the nation’s immense gratitude and thanks for the NHS with the weekly clap for carers and the people working on the frontline keeping our country safe.

The six new episodes – Cain and Aaron, Chas and Paddy, Sam and Lydia, Marlon, Al and Ellis, Mandy and Vinny and Jimmy and Nicola – will be recorded over a two week period and directed by Ian Bevitt.

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