UK production to continue despite lockdown

Peaky Blinders

TV and film production in the UK can continue despite the country’s latest nationwide lockdown, it has been confirmed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night announced that England would join Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in lockdown as Covid-19 infections continue to spiral in the country and millions have now been told to stay at home aside from in certain circumstances.

Oliver Dowden, the UK’s secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, later Tweeted out to confirm what this meant for the screen industry.

“For the arts/creative sectors this means you should work from home unless you can’t – exemptions include for training and rehearsal of performances, recording studios and film & TV production,” he wrote.

In July, the UK government unveiled details of a £500m ($650m) Film and TV Production Restart Scheme designed to help its domestic film and TV productions struggling to get Covid-19 related insurance.

The scheme is designed to stop producers moving series abroad or spiking programmes completely, after the pandemic caused hundreds of shows including Line Of Duty and Peaky Blinders to suspend filming last year.