Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars ‘fear they will be axed from soaps amid the COVID-19 crisis’

Emmerdale became the first British soap to resume filming as it began a ‘phased return’ on Wednesday, ITV revealed on Thursday.

And The Sun have reported that some stars from the soap and Coronation Street are concerned that they will be dropped from the show due to the coronavirus crisis.

A celebrity agent speaking to the publication on Saturday claimed that they had been contacted by ‘several people’ asking for work as they fear fewer stars will be asked to come back to the show.

The agent claimed some soap stars had also asked about voiceover work and other similar opportunities, and added: ‘These are people who’ve been in the show for years and they were apprehensive for the future. 

‘Inevitably, the cast call will be far lower for each scene meaning people will be left at home and not getting paid.

‘They also think that the longer this goes on the more ITV will realise they don’t need so many people on the cast so when contracts come up for renewal, some people just won’t have theirs renewed.’ 

ITV declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. 

Emmerdale star Danny Miller teased what’s to come in the soap, after taking part in the first day of filming during the show’s ‘phased return.’

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘WOW – it was so good to be back in Aaron’s house with his lodger. 

‘The Aaron & Cain episode was the first of the six lockdown episodes to be shot out of that block and under the new structures and rules so everyone was naturally anxious of how and what changes we would face..

‘Well I can tell you, the episode is amazing. You’re going to love it! I wouldn’t have wanted to share breaking into this new world of television with many others than my good pal Jeff Hordley – who is incredible in this beautiful episode – written by our very own Adam Sales.. 

‘And all the credit goes to our director @ianbevitt & @emmerdale – from paper to screen, for turning the production round to make a great episode at a distance – so we may not see a kiss or a fight on TV for a while, but this shows we can do without and do safely. Bravo.’ 

The soap’s production team have recorded six new episodes using a pared back crew at the show’s studios in Leeds, with stories focused on characters in lockdown.

ITV confirmed that social distancing measures and safety protocols were put into place and strictly adhered to by the team, with the episodes being recorded over a two-week period.

The channel’s Health and Safety team and medical advisers have been working closely with the government to consult on social distancing guidelines to ensure the team are working in accordance with return-to-production protocols.

This means that filming units are staying together while working in designated studios, and the crew are using their own equipment which has been sanitised in advance while office staff continue to work from home. 

ITV also revealed that they would not have any shoots on location, while scripts have been adapted to include fewer scenes and a small number of actors so that the cameras don’t need to be moved on a regular basis.

Directed by Ian Bevitt, the six new episodes focus on Cain and Aaron (Jeff Hordley and Danny Miller), Chas and Paddy (Lucy Pargeter and Dominic Brunt), Sam and Lydia (James Hooton and Karen Blick), Marlon, Al and Ellis (Mark Charnock, Michael Wildman and Aaron Anthony), Mandy and Vinny (Lisa Riley and Bradley Johnson), and Jimmy and Nicola (Nick Miles and Nicola Wheeler).

ITV teased the episodes will see ‘resentments and past feuds resurface, old wounds further exposed, relationships scrutinised, with doubts and insecurities laid bare’, with a hint of romance. 

It’s has also been confirmed that the characters will join in the weekly ‘Clap For Carers’ to show their support for the NHS and frontline workers. 

Executive producer Jane Hudson said: ‘Lockdown has created an opportunity for us to focus on what is important in our lives. 

‘When we first discussed commissioning these episodes back in March the writers instantly rose to the challenge. 

‘Seven weeks into lockdown and the scripts have an added poignancy and meaning. The response from everyone at Emmerdale to filming these episodes has been fantastic and we’re really grateful for their support.’ 

John Whiston – Managing Director of Continuing Drama for ITV Studios and Head of ITV in the North – added: ‘It’s brilliant that Jane and the team at Emmerdale have risen to the challenge of getting these episodes shot using the new protocols for filming drama while observing the government’s social distancing guidelines. 

‘Also, it will be great to see what the likes of Chas and Paddy and Jimmy and Nicola have got up to while they’ve been going through lockdown the same as the rest of us!’ 

Emmerdale announced in March that filming was being suspended to adhere to social distancing and government regulations amid the coronavirus crisis.  

ITV boss Kevin Lygo previously said the soap will remain on screens until the end of May and it’s likely older cast members won’t return to set for sometime, this could include Eric Pollard actor Chris Chittell, 71.  

Like Coronation Street, Emmerdale had scaled back its episodes from seven to three. 

Earlier this month, networks such as Sky, the BBC, ITV, ITN, Channel 4 and Channel 5, have explained in a 15-page plan how they would get the cameras rolling in the near future, with sets enforcing rules such as bringing your own cutlery to work, banning extras, encouraging indoor production and minimal make-up assistance.

Stars used to being taxied around, having lunch laid on and given a stylist will have to forgo such star treatment while social distancing is still being enforced. 

To avoid contact, make-up touch-ups will be restricted and, if necessary, guided by make-up artists from afar. 

There’ll be staggered lunch breaks and where someone brings their own kitchen utensils they ‘would be responsible for cleaning and ensuring they were identifiable’.

There will be no more chauffeuring actors around, with travel guidance stating that ‘single occupancy vehicles’ should be used where possible. 

The guidelines also enforce as much outdoor filming as possible – but not in a public space.

Scenes that are required to shoot inside need to be in a ‘large open space with good ventilation’ and should ‘avoid small rooms where possible’.

For scenes requiring bustling backdrops, extras are being replaced with green screens, to avoid over-crowded sets.

Personal Protective Equipment won’t be used unless ‘filming in higher risk settings such as hospitals’.

Actors over a certain age are still thought to be advised not to return to work as of yet, although the guidelines are not explicit on this.