Netflix bonkbuster Bridgerton sees filming halted as Covid outbreak rips through crew
FILMING of the second series of steamy bonkbuster Bridgerton ground to a halt after a member of the production team tested positive for Covid.
The entire cast and crew have now been tested and anyone who came into contact with the infected person has now gone into isolation.
Bosses of the Netflix show were hoping to restart within 24 hours, but are staging a crisis meeting this morning to decide whether they are able to resume safely.
The shock result will come as a particular blow to Netflix as they’re also about to start filming their other major drama, The Crown.
A TV insider said: “Both period epics are hugely important international hits for the streaming giant, but both require extremely large cast and crew.
“That’s a logistical nightmare in terms of trying to keep staff safe, prevent an outbreak or contain one when it’s been identified.
"It’s also a headache for producers because removing cast or crew and putting them into isolation means they have to be replaced at short notice, and that’s not always possible.
“Netflix have gone to great lengths to ensure all the relevant measures are in place on Bridgerton, but this just goes to show how difficult it is for such a large set to be completely Covid-secure.
“That doesn’t bode well for filming of The Crown, which is set to start any day now, and is on the same epic scale.”
Phoebe Dynevor, 26, will return for the follow up series of Bridgerton, which started filming according to schedule in May at the Royal Naval college in Greenwich, South-East London.
She plays Daphne who was seen in the first season constantly having sex with her love interest, the Duke Of Hastings, played by hunk Rege-Jean.
Earlier this year Phoebe, daughter of Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor, explained how hard it was to combat Covid while making the drama.
She said: “There are so many extras and so many crew members, and it’s a very intimate show.”
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The second series was being made at various locations, but this week was at Wrotham Hall, an 18th-century pile in Hertfordshire. Filming was being split between the grand house and studios in Uxbridge in West London.
Filming of the fifth series of royal drama The Crown, starring Imelda Staunton, 65, as the Queen and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, 30, is due to start this week.
The last series of the show saw it lead the Emmy award nominations this week, with 24 nods including best actor, best actress and best drama.