The popular Australian soap opera Neighbours will reportedly be the first TV show in an English-speaking country to return to production after being suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As reported by the Independent, the soap - which famously cast some of the most well-known Australians before they became international superstars (Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, and Margot Robbie, to name a few) - will resume filming next week.
However, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much ongoing, the actors will be required to keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters from other members of the cast and crew. Per ABC, "camera trickery" will create the illusion that the actors are closer together than they are.
Related - This is the hilarious moment a dog "played dead" to avoid going home during a walk amid the coronavirus lockdown:The decision for the Melbourne-set soap to continue filming comes after the country's prime minister Scott Morrison eased lockdown restrictions and stated that Australia is on the “road to recovery” from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Per the Independent, the social distancing guidelines will be strictly adhered to onset, and the cast and crew will be in separate groups in separate areas.
There will be no physical contact which includes kissing and hugging. Moreover, members of the crew will be used in the background in lieu of extras. Actors will also not be professionally made up.
"It's going to look a bit odd," said Chris Oliver-Taylor, the chief executive of Neighbours' production company Fremantle Australia, per ABC. "[But] Neighbours is a show that can get away with it."
He continued: "We employ hundreds of staff who want to work and feel they can. It's important we continue to produce a show that reaches millions of people in the UK and a significant audience in Australia.
We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this...