In the day it marks its 35th year on air, the set of hit TV series Home and Away has been shut down over coronavirus concerns. Channel Seven on Sunday said cast and crew safety and well-was a priority and shooting should be suspended. Seven Studios today told that it will urgently suspend shooting of Home and Away,’ a spokeswoman for Seven said in a statement to TV Tonight.
It clarified that no cast or crew of Home and away had tested positive for COVID-19 but that the decision was taken because of the growing logistical challenges involved with the COVID-19 situation,’ a spokesperson for Channel Seven said. Provided the series films several months in advance, episodes are supposed to remain on air.
Home and Away is not the only Australian tv show to be suspended in the last fortnight. Channel 10 and Fremantle Media suspended production on Neighbours on Wednesday over coronavirus concerns on the same day it was to mark its 35th anniversary on the air. Neighbours have agreed to take a brief break this week to ensure that the current development plan can survive any possible effect from the immediate COVID-19 scenario,’ a spokeswoman for Channel 10 said.
The decision to suspend Home and Away production was taken after the cast of the show, and the crew gathered to discuss their pandemic fears, 10 Daily reported. Two days later the cast and crew went back at work.