EastEnders veteran Steve McFadden dons a surgical mask and luminous cycling gloves as he enjoys a bike ride in the sunshine amid soap hiatus
With EastEnders on ice amid the current COVID-19 crisis, star Steve McFadden was sure to keep himself busy on Wednesday by enjoying a bike ride in the sunshine.
The veteran soap star, 61, was sure to take precautions as he took his daily dose of exercise outside in one of London’s leafy suburbs.
Steve – who has played Phil Mitchell on EastEnders since 1990 – wore a black surgical mask as he peddled along.
On ya bike! With EastEnders on ice amid the current COVID-19 crisis, star Steve McFadden was sure to keep himself busy on Wednesday by enjoying a bike ride in the sunshine
He added an inky blue cap and luminous cycling gloves to the ensemble, wrapping up from the May chill with a blue-grey and green jacket and Adidas tracksuit bottoms.
He wore a pair of black trainers and slung a matching bag over the handlebars.
Steve has been on hiatus from EastEnders since the soap went on break in March, with the government lockdown being enforced, halting production on TV shows across the world.
EastEnders bosses have reportedly held crisis talks about how they’ll tackle coronavirus filming issues when production recommences.
Daily exercise: The veteran soap star, 61, was sure to take precautions as he took his daily dose of exercise outside in one of London’s leafy suburbs
Staying protected: Steve – who has played Phil Mitchell on EastEnders since 1990 – wore a black surgical mask as he peddled along
But with reports the cast are set to return to work in June, show bosses have been trying to figure out how filming will take place while still abiding by the restrictions.
A source told The Sun: ‘Filming will have to resume at some point and bosses say June is the benchmark. With strict social distancing and extra precautions on set they think EastEnders could make the transition.
‘But they appreciate the health and safety of the cast and crew is paramount and should the lockdown restrictions be tightened, filming will, of course, not take place.’
Get-up: He added an inky blue cap and luminous cycling gloves to the ensemble, wrapping up from the May chill with a blue-grey and green jacket and Adidas tracksuit bottoms
Keeping busy: Steve has been on hiatus from EastEnders since the soap went on break in March, with the government lockdown being enforced, halting production on TV shows across the world
On a break: EastEnders bosses have reportedly held crisis talks about how they’ll tackle coronavirus filming issues when production recommences
Back soon: Soaps are reportedly looking to commence filming in June
The insider added that the soap’s bosses have said that if filming can ‘resume safely’, then it will ‘go ahead’.
In March the BBC cut it’s weekly number of aired episodes to just two in a bid to ‘ration’ their filmed content.