CHANNEL 4 has pulled production on Ackley Bridge, Travel Man and Made In Chelsea due to the coronavirus outbreak. Reality series MIC will pause filming, with series 19 – which launched on March 23 – to be cut short. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates OG cast members Binky […]
CHANNEL 4 has pulled production on Ackley Bridge, Travel Man and Made In Chelsea due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Reality series MIC will pause filming, with series 19 – which launched on March 23 – to be cut short.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
OG cast members Binky Felstead and Ollie Locke returned to the reality show for its latest series.
Meanwhile, Ackley Bridge star Jo Joyner and Travel Man’s Richard Ayoade will also be affected by the decision.
Director of Programming Ian Katz said: “The coronavirus outbreak is an enormous creative challenge for all broadcasters and though it is having a profound impact on getting some of our productions onto screen, it’s also a time when public service broadcasters like Channel 4 can step up and help people navigate through the extraordinary challenges we all now face.”
Chief Executive Alex Mahon added: “Covid-19 outbreak presents huge challenges for broadcasters and the creative industries and we’re doing all we can to support our partners at independent production companies to help them through this.
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“At the same time, together we are at our best when we use our creativity and ingenuity to respond to challenging circumstances and I’m incredibly grateful to them for the way that they are working with us to respond to this and help entertain and inform our audiences through these strange and unprecedented times.”
The decision comes days after show bosses at production company Lime Pictures confirmed plans to halt filming on popular C4 soap Hollyoaks amid the pandemic.
An email was sent to the cast and crew of the long-running series where bosses confirmed the temporary halt on filming.
They confirmed editorial work on the soap would continue, with script writers working from home on future episodes.
A spokeswoman for Hollyoaks said: “After careful consideration Lime Pictures has decided to temporarily suspend recording Hollyoaks from Monday 23rd March.
“It is a decision that has not been taken lightly but looking after our cast and crew is our number one priority.”
The UK coronavirus death toll today rose to 434 after 11 more people died in Wales and Scotland.
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