There’s increasing concern among soap fans that Coronation Street could actually go off air due to coronavirus.
Andy Whyment says Corrie stars would have to return to filming by the middle of June to ensure the soap continues seamlessly through the summer.
This is because the show only has enough episodes until early July, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more: Bill Roache thinks soap will continue in some shape or form
He has said: “I think we’ve got until the beginning of July in the can. So we need to get back, hopefully, by the middle of June with a bit of luck.
“Otherwise it’s going to go off air. Hopefully we’ll get back.
The 39-year-old actor, who has played Kirk Sutherland on the ITV soap since 2000, has his fingers crossed he and his colleagues will be able to resume filming in Weatherfield in a couple of months.
“Hopefully we should be able to get back to work with a bit of luck,” he added. “Fingers crossed.”
Andy’s thoughts on suspending filming
Read More: Coronation Street ‘won’t reference coronavirus pandemic in future episodes’
After filming was paused, Corrie reduced their weekly output from six episodes to three due to the coronavirus lockdown. Andy admitted it was the “right thing to do” to stop shooting episodes.
Hopefully we’ll get back.
He said: “We worked up until the Friday when Boris closed all the pubs and clubs, and we had the schedule up to the following Thursday.
“On the Sunday we had an email saying they were standing everyone down, which is fair enough.
“We were all saying we will carry on as long as we can, but I think work just felt that if all the pubs and clubs were shutting then it’s probably just the right thing for us to do to shut down.”
While he has been on Corrie for 20 years, the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star, who supports football team Manchester United, still gets “a buzz” from driving to work.
Speaking on Manchester United’s MUTV Group Chat video, he added: “It’s great to be a part of. I still get a buzz now when I drive up to the gates.
“I’m a massive fan of the show. I grew up watching it as a kid, so to be there 20 years and hopefully many more years to come would be amazing.”
Coronation Street’s scheduling pattern has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The soap now airs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm.
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