Coronation Street bosses are reportedly planning to keep older actors on-screen by including video chatting scenes when filming resumes.
The ITV soap opera hasn’t restarted recording yet but network boss Kevin Lygo has banned older actors from returning to set while coronavirus social distancing measures are still in place.
However, some of the show’s favourite and most iconic characters such as Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, 88, and Audrey Roberts, played by Sue Nicholls, 76, will not be allowed back on set.
Comeback: Coronation Street bosses are reportedly planning to keep older actors on-screen by including video chatting scenes (pictured is Audrey Roberts, played by Sue Nicholls, 76)
According to The Sun, a source told Talk TV: ‘Bosses know just how important these characters are to their millions of fans.
‘And who wouldn’t love to see the likes of Ken, Evelyn and Roy taking part in a Zoom quiz night?
‘Or Tracy calling her dad and telling him how much she misses him. There are good ways to do it and that’s what they’re looking into at the moment.’
Banned: However, some of the show’s favourite and most iconic characters such as Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, 88, will not be allowed back on set
Other cast members who will be banned from the Manchester set include Barbara Knox, 86, who plays Rita Sullivan and Maureen Lipman, 74, who plays Evelyn Plummer.
Maureen has previously revealed that she asked bosses not to ‘ditch the oldies’.
She said: ‘Don’t ditch the oldies because the oldies are what Corrie is about. Otherwise we might as well call ourselves Hollyoaks.’
Filming for Corrie is expected to resume in a matter of weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic forced its suspension back in March.
Plans: Other cast members who will be banned from the Manchester set include Barbara Knox, 86, who plays Rita Sullivan
However, fellow ITV soap Emmerdale has seen members of its cast return to set this week to film lockdown scenes.
Insiders told The Sun: ‘The celebrations would have felt a little empty if the stars who have helped make the soap such a hit for six decades weren’t involved.
‘So there are no lengths they will not consider to make this happen – though their number-one priority, of course, is the safety of the soap’s family of legends.’
MailOnline has contacted an ITV representative for further comment.
As Brits over 70 fall within the at risk category of those more vulnerable to the deadly virus, older cast members have been told to stay home.
Iconic thespian Bill recently revealed he won’t be returning to the soap ‘for some time’.
Speaking to Radio Derby earlier this month, the soap star shared his disappointment as he said: ‘Senior members of the cast will not be called back for some time, sadly. I’d like to get back.’
Of how things are set to change on set, he continued: ‘They’ve said it’s going to be very, very different. Scenes will be about lockdown.
Ditched: Maureen Lipman, 74, who plays Evelyn Plummer, has previously revealed that she asked bosses not to ‘ditch the oldies’
‘Scenes will be shot more simply with less people. Cameras will be placed where there’s required distance, so it will be very, very different when we get back.’
Production for Coronation Street was halted in March in the midst of coronavirus, and despite attempts to ration pre-filmed episodes, ITV have already confirmed the soap could go off the air by the end of June.
Sources have confirmed bosses have put together a plan for the cast to return to set next month and film with the use of clever camera angles to ensure stars are adhering to social distancing.
It’s thought some of the cast will return to production in smaller groups, with scenes filmed with the use of clever camera angles to ensure stars keep at least two metres apart.
Safety: As Brits over 70 fall within the at risk category of those more vulnerable to the deadly virus, older cast members have been told to stay home (David Neilson, 71, as Roy Cropper)