The BBC has revealed that it will "hopefully" be in a position to resume filming on Scottish soap River City some time in August.
The show shut down production in March due to the coronavirus lockdown, with the final new episode airing on May 18.
The plans to get back to work later this summer will lead to episodes being cut in length from an hour to 30 minutes, with the ambition of two episodes a week airing on BBC Scotland from September.
"River City will continue to reflect the lives of our audience when it returns to BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland after the summer," said Gavin Smith, commissioning editor at BBC Scotland.
"After such a seismic event in 2020, we can't ignore coronavirus so when we're back in Shieldinch we'll see the effect of the pandemic on our characters rather than making it the main focus.
"River City's comeback will see fans favourite characters return with a bang and there's lots of new dramatic and funny stories being written over the summer."
The BBC has been relatively slow in recommencing filming on its continuing dramas, with EastEnders still not back in full production several weeks after ITV's Emmerdale and Coronation Street started up again.
Neil Wilkes
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