John Whitson, ITV's Managing Director of Continuing Drama & Head of ITV in the North, spoke to Digital Spy and other media about how they've adapted to the current situation, and why that sometimes means the characters don't exactly follow the real-life rules when it comes to masks.

"The biggest issue for us," he said, "has been trying to adhere to the ever changing rules nationally and between the nations for things like face masks, some businesses being open and others not. How big a household can you have? How many people can you interact with?


"With masks, for example, the watchword has been to respect masks but enjoy the drama. We did shoot an intense scene where two people had masks on and, frankly, after 25 seconds it became farcical.

"It became comedic and not in a good way. So we had to take some dramatic license.

"The view we took is that people are seen wearing masks in the same way as they appear in real life. But people will take their masks down in order to have a conversation. And I think the audience has gone along with that and feels that is fine."


Whitson also talked about the big stunt the show has planned for its 60th anniversary, and the precautions they took so the cast and crew involved could be within two metres of each other.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV, with occasional Friday episodes airing for an hour-long block at 7.30pm.