Daniel Brocklebank "can’t wait" to get back on set.
The ‘Coronation Street’ actor – who has played Billy Mayhew on the cobbles since 2014 – is delighted after ITV bosses confirmed the soap will resume filming on June 9 after taking an enforced production break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Responding to the exciting announcement on Instagram, he commented: "Yay!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to get back to work & see you all (from a safe distance of course) (sic)"
The 40-year-old star and his cast mates are looking forward to returning to work, and actress Sair Khan (Alya Nazir) also responded to the news.
Sharing two praying hand emojis, she simply added: "Yeaaaaaa BUDDY (sic)"
And Colson Smith (Craig Tinker) was amongst those replying to the social media post as he shared two orange heart emojis.
Meanwhile, Sally Ann Matthews – who has played Jenny Bradley on and off since her ‘Corrie’ debut in 1986 – took to Twitter and joked her character might need a new wardrobe after lockdown.
She quipped: "I’m going to need bigger pants x (sic)"
On Monday (01.06.20), the production team began a health and safety induction to familiarise themselves with the new protocols that are now in place throughout the studios and on the soap set.
The cast and crew’s initial filming pattern will produce three episodes per week.
Several new health and safety measures have been introduced to ensure a return to filming is possible, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
These include the cast and crew having their temperatures checked on a daily basis by an external company, who are specialised medical advisors.
What’s more, members of the cast and crew who are over the age of 70 – which includes 88-year-old Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) – or have an underlying health condition, won’t be on set during the initial period of filming.
There will be an individual risk assessment process for those who fall into a Clinically Vulnerable category, and they will be able to return to work if it is safe for them to do so.
What’s more, props will be sanitised with the design team working at a safe distance, the make-up and costume departments will work remotely with members of the cast, but office staff will still work from home to ensure fewer people in the building.