ITV has announced that filming will stop on both Coronation Street and Emmerdale tomorrow due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Earlier this week it was confirmed that filming on both soaps would continue for the foreseeable future, albeit with increased health practices, but the decision has now been taken to make today the last day of filming.
In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon, ITV said: "ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23 March.
"We've been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines, to ensure we've episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.
"However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming.
"We'd like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months."
Corrie star Andy Whyment has revealed that scripts have been hastily rewritten over the last week after several castmates were forced into self-isolation.
To keep the soaps on air for as long as possible, Corrie will drop to three episodes a week from March 30, while Emmerdale will be reduced to five.
Neil Wilkes
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