Share

From 'Bold and the Beautiful' to 'Love Island' – TV productions that have shut down

accreditation
Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan in 'The Bold and the Beautiful.' (Photo supplied: Vodacom)
Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan in 'The Bold and the Beautiful.' (Photo supplied: Vodacom)

Studios are shutting down productions of scripted dramas, talks shows, soapies and reality TV series to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation last week.

At present, over 180 000 people have tested positive for the virus, while 62 cases have been reported in South Africa.

Amazon Studios has shut down production of the French version of Love Island that was filmed in Cape Town in South Africa.

"Following the announcement by the South African president that the country is now in a state of disaster Amazon Studios's production of Love Island: France will end early," ITV Studios, who produces the show for Amazon Studios France, said in a statement.

"The health and safety of the production team, the contestants and all people involved is our utmost priority, so we have ended production on this season now."

The final episode will become available on Monday night with viewers who will be able to vote for their favourite couple, with the results that will be announced online.

READ MORE: Trevor Noah cancels 'The Daily Show' as New York City shuts its cinemas and theatres

Meanwhile, the Lord of the Rings prequel series produced by GSR Productions for Amazon Studios and its Amazon Prime Video streaming service has also shut down, according to The New Zealand Herald.

The production staff of over 800 people gearing up to film the first season of the show in West Auckland have been told: "There are no clear answers to when we will resume production."

Staffers were told "not to report to the set or the studio without the express permission of your supervisor".

On Monday, American weekday soaps The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless both suspended production.

Episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful is carried on Vodacom's Video Play service and EVA (DStv 141).

Deadline reports that The Bold and the Beautiful, produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, as well as The Young and the Restless, produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Sony Pictures Television, are shutting down from Tuesday 17 March 2020.

Days of Our Lives seen in South Africa on e.tv, produced by Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television, already shut down for four months in November 2019 due to budget reasons.

Collectively South Africa's TV industry has multiple large ensemble cast and crew weekday soaps – each numbering far more than 100 people – that are produced for the SABC, e.tv, as well as M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and kykNET (DStv 144) channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, none of which have yet shut down production because of the coronavirus.

M-Net (DStv 101) will very likely have to postpone the filming and change the island location of its upcoming 8th season of Survivor SA: Immunity Island, produced by Afrokaans, that was set to broadcast in September, while Rapid Blue will likely implement changes for the second season finale and "Women Tell All" episodes of The Bachelor SA.

Questions are also swirling around the latest 16th season of Idols, produced by [SIC] Entertainment, and how it will continue given that the show has a contestant and crew complement of over 100 people, as well as several local scripted drama series in production across various TV channels.

The SABC and Danie Odendaal Productions will likely be forced to cancel the upcoming 20th-anniversary celebrations and viewers' competition for its longrunning 7de Laan Afrikaans weekday soap.

ALSO READ: 14th South African Film and Television Awards cancelled

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE