Neighbours shuts down filming due to coronavirus outbreak

‘Neighbours’ has temporarily shut down production on the show to keep the cast and crew safe during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Australian soap halted filming on the day it is celebrating its 35th anniversary producers of the programme have confirmed after Channel 10 and Fremantle Media made the decision that the health and wellbeing of the cast and crew was more important during the time of this pandemic.
A Channel 10 spokeswoman said: "’Neighbours’ has decided to take a short break this week to ensure the production model in place can withstand any potential impact of the urgent COVID-19 situation.
"The health and wellbeing of everyone on the set of Neighbours will always be our priority."
The programme – which airs on Channel 5 in the UK – shoots four to five months ahead of broadcast with regular production breaks throughout the year so this potentially short-term break will not see any interruption to the broadcast yet with episodes set to air for the next several months.
A meeting was held on Wednesday between producers, the cast and the crew to discuss ceasing shooting whilst coronavirus continues to claim lives all over the world.
Madeleine West – who plays Dee Bliss in the soap – had previously revealed that bosses had banned all on screen kisses between the Erinsborough characters to stop the potential spread of the disease and had also introduced a host of preventative measures on set whilst filming was still going ahead, including make-up artists wearing hazmat suits which keep out all germs.
Writing on her 9Honey column earlier this week, she said: "Today in the make-up chair, it was quite the experience being primped and preened over with a set of long tongs wielded by a hazmat suit-clad artiste, standing a full foot away in rubber gloves and a full face mask."
This halting of production on the show follows the decision that was made to axe a special storyline that was due to be filmed in Dublin in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
‘Neighbours’ stars Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne – who play Dr. Karl and Susan Kennedy – were due to fly into Ireland from Australia for the location shoot this month but overseas production was axed and is now unlikely to be rescheduled.
A special fan event due to take place at the Adelphi Theatre in London to mark the Australian soap’s 35-year anniversary was also cancelled.
Annie Jones (Jane Harris) and Alan were due to be present along with an unannounced star and several some special guests to look back at over three decades of series.