Coronation Street star Ben Price has shared an insight into filming with social distancing after being one of the first cast members to return to set.
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on Thursday’s This Morning, the Nick Tilsey actor, 48, explained that along with keeping two metres apart stars have had to maintain their own makeup and organise their own wardrobe.
Last week Coronation Street resumed filming three months after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Changes: Coronation Street star Ben Price, 48, has shared an insight into filming with social distancing after being one of the first cast members to return to set
Ben revealed he was one of the last cast members on-set before filming was suspended, along with co-star Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby.
He told Phil and Holly: ‘We were the last ones there and then we were the first ones back we were right in the middle of an episode, we finished three months ago and picked right back up three months later.
‘I’ve had the home haircut, you have to do your own makeup, costumes left for you, you have to try and maintain the look yourself.
‘It’s probably the same for you, there’s far people there for a start, wash hands, two metres apart a person measuring two metres, once you get on set far fewer people.’
Transitions: The Nick Tilsey actor (pictured in character) explained that along with keeping two metres apart stars have had to maintain their own makeup and organise their own wardrobe
Drastic: Ben revealed he was one of the last cast members on-set before filming was suspended, along with co-star Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby
Ben added that he and the cast have had to adapt to filming in a completely new style in the midst of the crisis, but believes that viewers will understand, and just be grateful the soap is still on screens.
He added: ‘I have to distance between me and Jane, and actually the challenge is you make that feel right, we’ve got used to how we shop now. My kids maintain distance at school you get used to it, it’s just great to get back up and running.
‘We are referencing that in the show, after two days we did 20-odd scenes, after the first scene we were working things out, you would be amazing you always have a bit of distance between you anyway.
‘It’s just being clever and not focusing on it so much, I hope it won’t be too much of a change now.
‘I think the audience will be forgiving, a lot of people are talking to me about how much they wanted Coronation Street to come back.’
Transition: Coronation Street ‘s cast and crew returned to work last week – stepping foot on the famous set for the first time in almost three months
Ben also told Phil and Holly that Nick’s storyline – which has seen him try and support Leanne after her young son Oliver was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder – somewhat adheres to distancing as the couple are struggling to be intimate.
He explained: ‘Especially with the story at the moment, you could rewrite it as Nick is finding it v difficult to be physical.
‘It’s just being a bit, changing the story slightly, we’re not in a light story, and actually sometimes you don’t feel like a hug, and maybe that’s what you do.’
Distancing: Ben added that he and the cast have had to adapt to filming in a completely new style in the midst of the crisis, but believes that viewers will understand
Ben added that due to new distancing measures, he’s been unable to see older cast members such as Helen Worth (who plays Nick’s mum Gail Platt) and Sue Nicholls (who plays Nick’s grandmother Audrey Roberts).
Coronation Street’s cast and crew returned to work last week – stepping foot on the famous set for the first time in almost three months.
Production on the UK’s longest-running soap opera was halted at the end of March, when TV shows across the world began to shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
ITV bosses previously confirmed that older cast members will be kept at home during the first few weeks of filming.
This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV.
Back soon: This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV