EastEnders executive producer Jon Sen has said that he hopes that the soap can return to producing 30-minute episodes in the near future.
The show was forced off air for two-and-a-half months last summer amid the coronavirus pandemic and when it finally returned last September, episodes were slimmed down to between 20 and 25 minutes as the production adapted to the new health and safety environment.
In recent months, as restrictions have started to loosen, cast members have been bubbling up in order to film close-contact scenes - and with almost all social distancing rules now gone, Sen is looking to getting back to producing normal-length episodes.
"It's been an incredibly challenging year for us all, but we have continued to make the show and we've gone through COVID and lockdowns and the pandemic and are still making the show," he told The Mirror.
"The cast and crew have been absolutely amazing. They've learned new techniques. The cast have completely revolutionised the way they work.
"The crew is doing the same, with changes to the way they work beyond recognition. I'm so proud at what they have achieved together, and we are now looking forward to working our way towards normal circumstances as soon as it is safe to do so.
"So we are doing 20-minute episodes at the moment, but we are looking to a future where we can get back to full-length EastEnders episodes, and hopefully that will be soon."
By contrast, EastEnders' ITV rival soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale avoided dropping off air last summer and have been producing full-length episodes consistently since last September.
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