Corrie's Andy Whyment gives update about soap's filming schedule

Filming is currently suspended

Author: Alex RossPublished 28th May 2020

ITV bosses were forced to postpone filming of beloved soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale back in March, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced lockdown measures to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

And whilst it was announced last week that Emmerdale is back filming some special lockdown episodes, whilst adhering to social distancing rules, reports suggest the current Corrie episodes could run out by mid-June, despite a reduced schedule running at the moment.

Corrie favourite Andy Whyment, who plays the role of Kirk Sutherland on the soap, has now given an update about the current filming situation over at Corrie, admitting things are going to be very different when the cast are allowed back.

Revealing bosses are looking to finishing filming of eight unfinished episodes, Andy told TalkSport, "It's going to be completely different because of all the distancing, so it's going to be interesting times when we go back.

"I think they had about eight episodes half-filmed, so they're going to concentrate on getting them finished first and that will give us another three weeks then. I do think ITV will want to get us back up to six episodes a week as soon as they can."

The popular actor, who appeared on I'm A Celebrity last year, also spoke about the soap's upcoming 60th anniversary at the end of the year.

He said "It's a massive year for Corrie because we're 60 in December, so we need to get back filming ASAP and crack on again. But once we've got those eight episodes filmed it will give us a little more leeway.

"There's going to be no kissing or holding hands. If Kirk is walking down the street with Beth we sometimes link, or hold hands. But there's going to be none of that going on. But everyone is going to have to get used to it. I'm sure we'll be fine."

Check out the current soap schedules below:

When is EastEnders on TV?

EastEnders bosses announced episodes have dropped to just two per week.

Mondays: 8pm
Tuesdays: 7.30pm

When is Emmerdale on TV?

Emmerdale have suspended filming and episodes have dropped to three per week.

Monday: 7pm
Wednesday: 7pm
Friday 7pm

When is Coronation Street on TV?

Corrie has also been dropped to three episodes per week, with filming on the soap also now suspended.

Monday: 7.30pm
Wednesday: 7.30pm
Friday: 7.30pm

When is Hollyoaks on TV?

The cast of Hollyoaks have been expressing their sadness that filming has been temporarily suspended, with the show also going down to three episodes per week.

Monday: 6.30pm
Tuesday: 6.30pm
Wednesday 6.30pm

However, Hollyoaks bosses announced they will be showing 'classic' Hollyoaks episodes on E4 on both Thursday and Friday, calling it 'Hollyoaks Favourites'.

Introduced by Kieron Richardson and Jorgie Porter, this series will give viewers a chance to revisit some of our biggest episodes, from weddings, bust-ups, heartbreaks and some of the biggest and best stunts from the last 25 years.

Meanwhile, in other soap news, Emmerdale bosses announced filming has resumed, with the cast working on six special lockdown episodes, all filmed with just two cast members.

The six new episodes, which will air in June, will be recorded at Emmerdale's studio in Leeds and will feature the following cast members:

Episode One: Cain and Aaron (Jeff Hordley and Danny Miller)

Episode Two: Chas and Paddy (Lucy Pargeter and Dominic Brunt)

Episode Three: Sam and Lydia (James Hooton and Karen Blick)

Episode Four: Marlon, Al and Ellis (Mark Charnock, Michael Wildman, Aaron Anthony)

Episode Five: Mandy and Vinny (Lisa Riley and Bradley Johnson)

Episode Six: Jimmy and Nicola (Nick Miles and Nicola Wheeler)

Find out more about the brand new Emmerdale episodes right here.

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