I shan’t go out to clap next week, says woman behind salute to NHS
LAST NIGHT’S 10th weekly Clap for Carers may be the last after the woman behind the idea said she will no longer take part.
Over the last two and a half months, millions across the UK have stood in their doorways, gardens or on the pavement at 8pm every Thursday to demonstrate their support for nurses, carers and front-line workers.
Annemarie Plas, 36, last week said she had no problem with people continuing to gather at 8pm each week to clap but said she would not be among those taking part in future.
She said: “To have the most impact, I think it is good to stop it at its peak.
“Without getting too political, I share some of the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised.
“I think the narrative is starting to change and I don’t want the clap to be negative.”
RAINBOW:
Ms Plas told ITV’s Good Morning Britain she would be clapping last night but would return outside at the same time next week only to “check in” with her community, without applauding.
The ritual has been criticised by some for becoming politicised.
Others, including NHS staff, have said some people who take part in the clap then wilfully ignore the plea to stay at home and avoid gatherings, breaching all the efforts to ease the strain on the healthcare system.
Two weeks ago Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick was filmed leading dozens of officers in the weekly applause for key workers on a crowded Westminster Bridge.
NEW EPISODES of Emmerdale will continue to be broadcast throughout the coronavirus lockdown, ITV has confirmed.
The number of new episodes for the Yorkshire-based soap being aired weekly will temporarily fall from three to two in order to ensure that the programme can stay on air.
Filming of Emmerdale was initially halted in March because of Covid-19, although the programme’s cast and crew returned to work last week.
The new episodes will show characters “experiencing the trials and tribulations” of the lockdown, and have been filmed with scaled-down teams and social distancing measures in place.
The new episodes will be aired from June 8, when ITV will screen the soap, which is set in the Yorkshire Dales, on Mondays and Wednesdays.