With much of the North West of England back in lockdown after a spike in cases of coronavirus, Coronation Street faces uncertainty AGAIN over how to continue filming.
Coronation Street went off air in the first time in its’ sixty year history during the pandemic, with cast and crew unable to film scenes thanks to strict lockdown measures.
Since some rules have been relaxed, Corrie returned to filming but actors have been keeping a two meter distance from each other in scenes and have been doing their own hair and make-up.
But now that Manchester, where the soap is filmed, has reintroduced some measures, ITV bosses are planning how they might be able to avoid cancelling filming again and reportedly planning on keeping staff quarantined at a local hotel.
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Coronation Street Monday 10 - Friday 14 August SLIDER
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With the café back open for takeaways, Steve pays a visit, hungry for sausage bap, but is put out when Nina says they're having a veggie day.
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A hangry Steve storms out, later returning to the café with a packet of sausages, demanding they make him a sandwich with them.
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Confused by Steve's behaviour, Nina rings Leanne who arrives at the café to find Steve holding a sausage protest behind the counter.
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A knowing Leanne brings Steve home and cooks his bap, gently explaining that if he's stressed about Oliver he can talk to her - they're in this together.
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Elsewhere, Adam is still in investigator mode and is shocked to find out from Bernie that the watch she found had the name 'Rick' engraved on it.
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He's even more suspicious when she let's slip that she found it in the woods and that Gary had seemed keen to get his hands on it.
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Later on, Adam tells Imran that he's more sure than ever that Gary killed Rick and vows to get to the bottom of what's been going on.
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Meanwhile, Sarah is done with questioning and Craig hands back her belongings, with the missing watch included.
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But she's soon rumbled when Adam catches her handling the watch and demands to know everything she knows about Gary and Rick.
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After some protesting, Sarah eventually folds and says that even if Gary did kill Rick, he only did it to protect her and the family.
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It's the day of Maria and Gary's wedding and while Maria excitedly prepares for the nuptials, Gary pays a visit to Sarah's house.
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Having been goaded by Adam, Gary is desperate to know exactly what Sarah has told him but Sarah insists she's not said anything as a flicker passes between them.
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Preoccupied with Yasmeen's case and what Adam has told him, Imran arrives home to an excited Toyah who tells him she's been in touch with Karen the social worker.
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Toyah explains that Karen is keen to get the wheels in motion for adopting as soon as she receives Leanne's character reference. Imran relaxes.
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Meanwhile, Abi's not having such good news as she confides in Seb that she's realised she has to see the twins to say goodbye.
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Abi begs Seb to talk to the social worker to sort a meeting between her and the twins before they leave for Australia, but Seb's not sure.
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Alya tells Sally that she's thinking of selling her half of Speed Dahl in order to put some distance between her and Geoff, but Sally has a better idea.
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Suggesting that Alya instead buy out Geoff's half of the business, Sally offers Alya the wedding money he gave them, saying it was Yasmeen's money anyway.
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Later on Alya propositions Geoff with buying him out but a stubborn Geoff refuses to sell up, reluctant to lose his grip over Yasmeen.
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Alya forsees Geoff's reaction and soon she's taking great delight in telling him that Sally has offered her the money he gave her and Tim for the wedding,
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A furious Geoff lays into Sally and says that Tim will always pick him over her because blood is thicker than water and she shouldn't try to get in between them.
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Later on Sally is forced to apologise to Tim for offering Alya without consulting him but that it was Yasmeen's money anyway. But has the damage already been done?
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At number 5, Chesney runs down the stairs in his pants with a shirt covered in baby sick but is mortified to find Gemma at the laptop...
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... live streaming her latest blog. Chesney is gutted convinced he'll soon be a laughing stock, but Gemma is distracted by a friend request.
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Gemma accepts the request from an account under VAN87 and agrees to a video chat, but soon learns the account belongs to Vanessa from the baby group.
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Vanessa wants to extend an olive branch and rekindle their friendship. Despite everyone else's warnings, Gemma decides to meet up with Vanessa.
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“With the current rules and the strict behaviour of cast and crew on set, they’re fine as they are,” a soap insider said.
“But if the rules are tightened the bosses have discussed putting up cast and crew if they are living in affected areas."
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Speaking to The Sun, they continued, “They’re hoping it won’t come to it as they’re behaving impeccably on set, but there are contingency plans just in case.”
However, an ITV spokesperson said there were no immediate plans to halt filming, insisting, “The new lockdown restrictions in Greater Manchester don’t affect the workplace.
“We have measures in place that are working well and we will not have to change how we are filming.
“We continue to maintain our health and safety protocols to ensure everyone can work safely.”