Bosses at the BBC have implemented changes to its BBC Radio One show schedules to ensure fewer presenters are in the studio amid the coronavirus pandemic.
BBC Radio One has announced it will make daytime shows longer to ensure fewer presenters are required in the studio throughout the course of the day.
The new schedule will come into effect from March 30 and will remain under review for the foreseeable future, the BBC said.
Aled Haydn Jones, head of programmes at Radio One, said: “In these testing times I’ve made the decision to simplify our schedule to ensure the health of our teams, presenters and the network itself.
The BBC has made changes to BBC Radio One (Image: PA)
“I’m very proud of how the Radio One teams have been able to continue to entertain and inform our audience under such difficult conditions, and we’ll be doing our best to carry on throughout the challenging weeks ahead.”
The BBC has also made changes to its infamous soap EastEnders amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a bid to keep the show on air while the UK is on “lockdown”, the BBC decided to cut EastEnders weekly programming in half, going from four episodes a week to just two.
The changes have been made to have less presenters in at once (Image: Getty Images)
In a statement released earlier this week from the BBC, it read: “In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice.
“The decision was made after the latest government update. We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England.
“We have also taken the decision to reduce the amount of episodes we broadcast each week to two, so that we can ensure the audience can continue to enjoy EastEnders in their homes for as long as possible.”
The changes will come into place from March (Image: PA)
The channel has also made its 6pm news slot on Tuesday’s longer and suspended filming of its shows Casualty, Doctors and Holby City.
Two of the UK’s biggest BBC dramas, Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty, have also halted its production.
A statement on the official Peaky Blinders Twitter account said: “After much consideration and in light of the developing situation concerning COVID-19, the start of production of Peaky Blinders series 6 has been postponed.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
