EastEnders executive producer Jon Sen has revealed the innovative lengths that the soap has gone to in order to film in a coronavirus-safe manner.
The show began filming new episodes in late June under strict social distancing and hygiene measures after more than three months of shutdown due to the pandemic.
Speaking to reporters this week, Sen explained that the soap had brought in some of the cast's real-life partners and household members as body doubles for the more intimate scenes, as well as using extras from the same household bubble, while they are also using Perspex screens to enable the cast to 'cheat' the one-metre distancing rule.
"To reflect the world outside, we use support artists from the same household," he said. "We have supporting artists who are in a house of students or a husband and wife, who can be seen walking together and can kiss in the street.
"For those really crucial moments where two characters kiss, we've invited real life partners of the actors onto the set to cheat those kinds of moments.
"With Perspex screens, you can bring people really close together. That's good because it gives an intimacy to the performance.
"We also use plate shots, where two actors look like they are sitting at the same table but they have been filmed in isolation. You put the shots together."
EastEnders returns to BBC One at 8pm on Monday, September 7.
Neil Wilkes
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