BAFTA TV awards postponed after coronavirus pandemic forces celebrities into isolation
THE BAFTA TV awards have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Television Craft Awards and Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards were originally scheduled for April 26 and May 17.
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However, organisers announced on Tuesday that the ceremony will be delayed until later in the year.
The official BAFTA account tweeted: "Following the latest government advice, we regret to announce that the BAFTA Television Craft Awards and Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards, originally scheduled for 26 April & 17 May, will be postponed until later in the year'.
They added on their website that the nominations announcement on March 26 will also be postponed until closer to the ceremony.
New dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
The TV world has come to a standstill due to the coronavirus crisis, with filming being postponed for several shows.
Work had to stop on BBC dramas Line Of Duty and Peaky Blinders — and producers on The Graham Norton Show are struggling to find celebrities willing to appear.
The sixth series of police thriller Line Of Duty, starring Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure, began filming in Northern Ireland last month — but is now postponed indefinitely.
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The makers of period crime drama Peaky Blinders, which stars Cillian Murphy, have decided not to start filming until the industry is given the all-clear.
The filming schedules of ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale are not yet disrupted.
Producers say the shows will use their platform to remind viewers of the importance of health precautions such as hand-washing.
An unnamed Corrie cast member who went into self-isolation ten days ago after returning from a virus hotspot did not develop symptoms and has returned to work.
On Monday some studio-based programmes, such as ITV’s Loose Women and Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine, went ahead without their usual live audiences.
Meanwhile, Holly Willoughby fled the Celebrity Juice studio after host Keith Lemon came down with coronavirus symptoms.
The channel’s golden girl was among stars in fancy dress to film an episode in front of an audience but it had to be cancelled.
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