BBC suspends filming on dramas including EastEnders, Casualty, Doctors, Holby City and River City amid coronavirus outbreak
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The BBC has announced filming is to be suspended on a number of its top-rated shows due to coronavirus.
The number of EastEnders episodes screened will be cut from four to two per week in order to make the stockpile of already-filmed episodes last "as long as possible".
A spokesperson said: "In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice.
"We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England."
In reference to Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Welsh soap Pobol y Cwm and Scottish drama River City, the corporation confirmed "it has decided that filming on all BBC Studios continuing dramas will be postponed".
ITV has not yet announced whether programmes such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale will follow suit but producers of Australian TV soap Neighbours have already announced it will not film this week as a precaution, after reports suggested a person working on the show had come into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
The BBC announcement about its drama plans follows the news that current affairs programmes including Politics Live and Victoria Derbyshire have also been temporarily suspended to allow the BBC News Channel to focus on "core news".
Question Time will move to an 8pm slot on BBC One but will be filmed without a studio audience.
