The Covid-19 pandemic has threatened the ‘Call the Midwife’ Christmas special.
Filming for the TV show is set to resume in September but show bosses are worried about a tight turnaround to get the festive episode completed in time for Christmas.
A TV insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "BBC bosses understand that coronavirus disruption means ‘Call The Midwife’ won’t be able to start in its usual slot. It’s disappointing given that it would be their tenth series.
"But what’s even more worrying for the corporation is the idea that work on the Christmas special has yet to resume. The series has the flexibility to start at any time, but there’s only one chance to air a Christmas special and the Beeb views it as a Christmas essential, up there with turkey and tinsel."
"Even if it does restart in September, it will be quite a tight turnaround. That’s assuming there isn’t a second spike in infections now that lockdown restrictions are being lifted across the country.
"And the BBC would never push the creators to do anything which would be in any way unsafe for cast or crew."
Meanwhile, Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Patrick Turner in the period drama series, written by his wife Heidi Thomas, says the festive special "should be extraordinary", although he’s still waiting for filming to be confirmed.
Asked about the Christmas special, the 57-year-old actor said: "Why do I know? Because I live with the boss who writes it … apparently, it’s fantastic."
Stephen also revealed that the episode will have a "very, very special theme".
He added’: "It’s going to be in Poplar, it’s not going to be overseas, and it has a very, very special theme which I can’t go into, but I can tell you now it should be extraordinary."