Below is a statement issued by CEO of the British Film Commission, Adrian Wootton OBE, on further UK Government COVID-19 restrictions:
Yesterday’s announcements from the UK Prime Minister and Scotland’s First Minister make clear that, while there are new restrictions relating to COVID-19, COVID-secure work-places will remain operational. This includes workplace production activity, such as film and TV studios and locations, operating under the rigorous British Film Commission or broadcasters’ COVID-19 Production guidance.
The British Film Commission’s COVID-19 Production guidance, welcomed by UK Government, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, was designed to be rigorous, with thorough, comprehensive recommendations around social distancing and personal hygiene. We know UK productions have been following it when restarting production. Studios and streamers also have their own extremely rigorous protocols which sit alongside the BFC guidance, as well as production-specific risk assessments. These are all points we are clear to make in our conversations with Government.
And so, while COVID-19 restrictions vary from nation to nation within the UK, for film and high-end TV production in all four UK nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – operating within appropriate industry guidelines in COVID-secure settings is permitted.