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Hollyoaks to return to ‘phased filming’ on July 13th

‘Hollyoaks’ will return to "phased filming" on July 13th.

The Channel 4 soap is in pre-production again following the enforced break, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the cast will start filming episodes again next month after attending a safety induction.

A ‘Hollyoaks’ spokesperson told The Sun Online: "As previously announced on Monday 8th June, ‘Hollyoaks’ is currently in pre-production and returning to phased filming on 13th July.

"All cast and crew will attend a safety induction to familiarise themselves with the revised way of working prior to production re-starting."

Earlier this month, ‘Hollyoaks’ confirmed the soap had resumed production but revealed the show will not return to five nights a week until 2021.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: "’Hollyoaks’ will be resuming production this week in Liverpool ahead of a return to recording on set in July.

"The Channel 4 drama, which is shot differently to other soaps with single-camera, will increase in episodes from its current two nights a week to four nights a week from September, the current plan being to return to five episodes in 2021."

Hollyoaks’ resumption comes amid an investigation by the soap after star Rachel Adedeji – who plays Lisa Loveday – recently claimed she had experienced racism on the programme, including alleging she was once told "you’re all the same" by a make-up artist.

She wrote in a statement: "I am disappointed with Hollyoaks’ approach with showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement yesterday. Did black lives matter when I was told ‘you’re all the same’ via a make up artist you employed and remains in employment to this day? Did Black Lives Matter when a number of female black actors were forced to drastically change their hair, because if not, the viewers ‘would not be able to tell them apart’? Do Black Lives Matter when my fellow black castmates are deemed ‘angry, aggressive and too vocal?’ Did Black Lives Matter when referred to as ‘bl*****s’ by a senior member of the production team? Do Black Lives really matter to you if over the last four years at ‘Hollyoaks’, I have only worked with one black director? (sic)"

Lime Pictures have since issued a statement insisting they have "a zero tolerance of racism or any form of discrimination across all of its shows", and ‘Hollyoaks’ announced they are "investigating", and insisted they have "zero tolerance on racism".

A post on their social media channels read: "Hollyoaks has zero tolerance on racism. We are taking Rachel Adedeji’s comments extremely seriously and are investigating."