Viewers may be able to see through BBC’S solution to actors kissing

‘Strictly is probably the hardest show to do; a live weekly show that relies on body contact quite a lot’

TELEVISION kissing scenes are now filmed with a Perspex screen in between actors that is edited out in postproduction, the BBC’S drama boss has revealed.

Piers Wenger, who is in charge of commissioning all of the broadcaster’s dramatic series, said the new technique is one of numerous “ingenious” ways the BBC has managed to navigate

Covid-19 filming restrictions. Other approaches include redesigning sets to adhere to social distancing and putting cast and crew in “bubbles”.

Mr Wenger made the comments at the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival, where he appeared alongside his colleague Kate Phillips, head of entertainment at the BBC.

Ms Phillips said that while Strictly Come Dancing will be returning to viewers’ screens in October, it has been the “hardest” show to film under current circumstances.

But, the professionals are already rehearsing for when the show returns and bosses are currently redesigning the set to ensure that members of the band are appropriately spaced out.

“Strictly is probably the question we get asked more than any other show,” Ms Phillips said. “I can say it absolutely is coming back – it is a slightly shorter run, but apart from that I don’t think it will be a lesser show at all. [I think] it will be special this series, there will be heightened emotions and a lot of the dances will have real poignancy.

“The pros have been isolating together for the last couple of weeks, they are now rehearsing together, the big dance numbers, it looks so good seeing them dance.

“We will announce the celebrity line-up at the end of this month. We are planning it now but they are all on board and very excited.

“We are having to adapt, the set is having to be altered, we are not quite sure at this stage how much audience we will be able to have, we have to look at Dave Arch and his band, and how hair, make-up and costume will work backstage.

“It’s probably the hardest show to do in the current circumstances; a live weekly show that relies on body contact quite a lot.

“Having said that, I think Studios [BBC Studios, which makes the show] has really risen to the challenge and I would say across all the entertainment shows we are seeing good ideas.”