Producers decided a break was necessary after a manic work schedule for both cast and crew during the coronavirus crisis.
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The Sun also understands there was a Covid-19 outbreak on the Yorkshire set of Emmerdale, which resulted in a deep-clean and a pause in filming.
Crew on both soaps were told to down tools – with Corrie suspending all work as of Monday – to give the production a chance to refresh having worked relentlessly through the coronavirus crisis. Emmerdale staff will return to work next week.
The show’s script writers are having to rewrite scenes, which are now proving impossible due to pandemic rules – such as those including kissing and fighting.
Bosses also say they will revisit both show’s health and safety requirements to ensure all of the cast and crew remain in good health.
A source said: “It’s been a really hard year for both soaps. They’ve had to work through the most difficult period in television history.
“Everyone has decided that a break is in order, which is almost unprecedented.
“The storyliners plan a long way in advance, and there’s certain things they’d have hoped they could write in for later in the year.
“But scenes that involve kissing, fighting and anything that really breaks social distancing are out for now. So there’s had to be rewrites.
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“Both soaps have the best writers in the business, so they’re going to use this time to refresh, take stock, and have a think about how they can tell the stories in the best and safest way.”
An ITV spokeswoman said: “Coronation Street will pause filming from next Monday, 25 January for two weeks to undertake some rewriting of stories and scripts as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We will also be taking the opportunity to review all health and safety requirements to ensure we continue to provide a safe working environment for the cast, crew and production team.
“This pause in filming won’t affect our ability to deliver six episodes of Coronation Street each week.”
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Emmerdale will resume filming on Monday, after filming was halted last week due to a Covid-19 outbreak on set. It’s understood it was a member of the wider production team, and not a cast member.
The spokeswoman added: “We paused filming on Emmerdale last week due to some members of the team testing positive for Covid 19.
“We’ve carried out proper track and trace measures on those cases and undertook intensive cleaning of the production building, whilst reinforcing the health and safety protocols we have in place. We’re returning to filming from this Monday, 25 January.
“This pause in filming will have no impact on our ability to continue to broadcast six episodes of Emmerdale each week.”