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executives were also meeting yesterday in a bid to discover whether Graham Norton’s chat show could go ahead on Friday, after most of the guests pulled out.
An increasing number of TV programmes saw filming stalled or scrapped yesterday. BBC content director Charlotte Moore said: “We are all we can to keep our programmes going. We are continuing to review all productions on a case-bycase basis.”
Most BBC staff at the London HQ of New Broadcasting House have been told to work from home. One source said the priority was to protect BBC News, which was the most essential service to the nation in times of crisis. They said: “We need to ensure the newsroom is as safe as possible for as long as possible. Everyone who doesn’t need to come into the building has been told to stay away.”
On ITV, Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid yesterday appeared on screen from her own home after selfdoing isolating when one of her sons developed a cough. She will remain off-air for the recommended 14-day period.
And BBC presenter George Alagiah, who has had bowel cancer, said he is “absolutely gutted” but has decided to “stay away from the newsroom”.
Yesterday, Bafta announced the annual TV awards, due to take place on May 17, would now be pushed back to later in the year.
There is a big question mark over the Eurovision Song Contest, which is scheduled for May 16 in Rotterdam. The Netherlands has a ban on public gatherings of more than 100 people.
ITV2’s summer Love Island, filmed in Majorca, is also unlikely to go ahead as Spain is in lockdown.
TV bosses face the daunting task of filling hours and hours of empty airtime over the summer, after all sport was cancelled, in particular the European Football Championships.
Autumn and winter are looking similarly empty as major dramas will struggle to be edited in time.
One insider sighed: “It’s going to be a rocky road ahead.”