COVID-19 pandemic

The **COVID-19 pandemic** is an ongoing global pandemic of the COVID disease. Originating in China in December 2019, lockdowns of Wuhan and other cities in the country failed to stop the virus and it spread around the world, becoming one of the deadliest pandemics in history.

## Impact on *EastEnders*

*EastEnders* was one of several soaps effected by the pandemic in 2020; *EastEnders* shut down their studios on 18th March2020 after lockdown was announced by then prime minister Boris Johnson, and announced they would only be screening two episodes a week to keep the soap on television for as long as possible. However, despite the best efforts of the crew at BBC, *EastEnders* ran out of episodes. *EastEnders*' last episode was 16 June 2020, and the episode marked the first time in the shows thirty five year history that the soap went on a hiatus.

*EastEnders* returned on 7 September 2020 after an eleven week absence with episodes now being twenty minutes instead of thirty minutes, actors and crew members also had to socially distance, so they show had to use cleaver techniques and camera trickeries to make character look like they're next to each other doing regular everyday things.

Lockdown and COVID-19 has also been incorporated into the *EastEnders* universe, with many characters having storylines centered around lockdown.

## Real life events

### Timeline

* 18th March 2020 - After the emergence of COVID-19, EastEnders and other soaps decided to halt filming and close down their studios. EastEnders also announced that only two episodes would be broad cast a week in an attempt to keep EastEnders on screens for as long as possible.
* 23rd March 2020 - Prime Minister Boris Johnson puts the country into lockdown, meaning EastEnders would not be able to continue filming any time soon.
* 16 June 2020 - Final episode of EastEnders until 7 September 2020 after BBC ran out of episodes and were unable to produce more due to the pandemic.
* 22nd June 2020 - It was announced shortly after EastEnders ran out of episodes that EastEnders would be releasing a special spinoff series called Secrets from the Square, which would be presented by Stacey Dooley and would have many of the actors from EastEnders on, the series would be on in the week on the days when EastEnders was supposed to be on. The first episode was on 22 June 2020 and the final episode was September 4 2020.
* During lockdown - Former EastEnders actor Tamzin Outhwaite admitted she struggle to find any work and admitted she worried for the theatre industry as a result of lockdown, former EastEnders actor Charlie Clements started working as a chef.
* Several dates - Phil Mitchell actor Steve McFadden was pictured several times on his bike during the pandemic to keep fit.
* May/June 2020 - It was rumoured in May that EastEnders were due to resume filming in June, merely three months after filming stopped, an EastEnder spokesperson was forced to come out and deny this: In a statement released to Digital Spy, an EastEnders spokeswoman said: "No dates have been set for filming to resume and we will not return until it is safe to do so. We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England." However at the end of June EastEnders did indeed resume filming.
* 7 September 2020 - EastEnders returned with new episodes, with episodes being twenty minutes instead of thirty and that cast and crew would be socially distancing.
* 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2021 - Mick Carter, Linda Carter and Katy Lewis were the first characters to do scenes together without social distancing, this was due to actors Danny Dyer, Kellie Bright and Simone Lahbib all self isolating together for two weeks. The reason for this is because this storyline was the reveal of Mick's childhood sexual abuse storylines and the cast and crew felt these set of episode would be more authentic without social distancing for such a sensitive storyline. Social distancing was slowly scrapped after this storyline and the soap slowly began to go back to normal.

## *EastEnders* universe events

### Timeline

* During lockdown - Phil Mitchell finalises his divorce with Sharon Mitchell, Ben Mitchell, Lola and Lexi Pearce move into 55 Victoria Road with Phil. At some point during lockdown Phil discovers that Vincent Hubbard was murdered by Aidan Maguire, Phil had ordered Aidan to kidnap but not kill back in 20 April 2018, Phil then managed to get a recording of Vincent's death.
* During lockdown - Gray Atkins abuse of Chantelle Atkins gets worse during lockdown, once lockdown ended Gray killed Chantelle after Chantelle tried to leave him.
* During lockdown - Patrick Trueman catches COVID and moves away from Walford temporarily to be looked after by his son Anthony Trueman.
* During lockdown - Kheerat Panesar kept in touch with Chantelle during lockdown and helped her plan to escape from Gray.
* During lockdown - Jay Brown was hurt that girlfriend Lola Pearce didn't invite him to live with her and grows close to Honey Mitchell, Jay also is forced to shut down his businesses due to lockdown.
* During lockdown - Kat Slater takes step daughter Cherry Slater back to her mother Hayley Slater.
* Sharon moves into The Queen Victoria with Ian Beale.
* During lockdown - Tina Carter's actress Luisa Bradshaw-White revealed Tina had COVID during lockdown and was living with Iqra Ahmed and Ash Panesar.
* During lockdown - Boyfriends Ben and Callum did not see each other during lockdown due to not living together.
* During lockdown - Nurse Sonia Fowler worked with the NHS through the whole of lockdown.
* 7 September 2020 - All Businesses in Albert Square re-open.
* 28 September 2020 - Ian attempts to blame lockdown for not paying Max Branning his money back but Max quickly told him he doesn't get to blame COVID.

## Notes

* Sharon Watts got the last Doof-Doof before EastEnders went off air and she also got the first Doof-Doof when EastEnders returned.