‘EastEnders’ could go off air on June 16th.
The BBC One soap paused filming at the end of March, alongside the rest of Soapland, as the UK went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it has now been claimed the BBC One soap may run out of episodes by mid-June, with the stars yet to return to work.
A source told The Sun Online: "It’s due to go off air on 16 June.
"Talks about when the cast are returning to set are ongoing."
‘EastEnders’ bosses confirmed last month that the stars’ will resume filming "at the end of June", and there will be "strict social distancing measures in place".
A post on the show’s Instagram page read: "@BBCEastEnders will resume filming at the end of June, with strict social distancing measures in place. More news to be announced soon! #EastEnders #News (sic)"
‘EastEnders’ cut its weekly output from four episodes to two episodes at the beginning of lockdown.
It comes as ‘Coronation Street’ confirmed stars will head back to work on Tuesday (09.06.20), and a selection of ‘Emmerdale’ actors have been shooting special lockdown episodes, which will start to air on Monday (08.06.20).
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC drama commissioning, admitted this week that ‘EastEnders’ will feature coronavirus content when it returns.
He said: "’EastEnders’ is set in a version of the here-and-now, so when it returns it won’t be a Covid-free Walford.
"There will be social distancing and so on. But we may not dwell on the virus and make it the heart of the story. I’m unsure about that.
"I think people watch a show like ‘EastEnders’ for the characters and their relationships, so Covd-19 will be there but it won’t be the only thing happening in Albert Square."