Hollyoaks announces filming will resume next month after coronavirus break
There's good news for Hollyoaks fans...
C4 has announced that filming of Hollyoaks will start again in July after a three month break.
Like all other soaps and TV shows, Hollyoaks was forced to shut down filming back in March when the coronavirus pandemic caused lockdown across the world.
Since then all soaps have been running a reduced schedule, leaving fans missing their daily dose of drama.
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For the last few months, Hollyoaks has gone from airing every week day to just two days a week, with new episodes currently going out on a Monday and Tuesday evening.
The soap hasn't left viewers totally bereft, though, because Channel 4 has been filling in the void with classic episodes being shown on E4 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
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But thankfully for soap fans Channel 4 has announced today that production of the soap will resume this week, with the plan to get cast back to filming next month.
A C4 spokesperson said today: "Hollyoaks will be resuming production this week in Liverpool ahead of a return to recording on set in July.
The C4 drama, which is shot differently to other soaps with single-camera, will increase in episodes from its current two nights a week to four nights a week from September, the current plan being to return to five episodes in 2021."
While viewers will have an agonising wait until next year to see new episodes of Hollyoaks aired every week night again, C4 has revealed this is the best way to keep cast and crew safe in these uncertain times...
"To safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all involved in the production of Hollyoaks, new work protocols will be in place.
All cast and crew will attend a safety induction to familiarise themselves with the revised way of working prior to production re-starting."
Hollyoaks currently airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, with first-look episodes airing on E4 at 7pm.
There are also classic episodes called Hollyoaks Favourites being aired on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on E4.
Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.
After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.
She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!
As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.