BBC Studios extends freelancer furlough scheme until 31st August

BBC Studios has announced it is extending its furlough scheme for freelancers until the end of August.

The commercial operation of the BBC has furloughed around 600 fixed term contract and PAYE freelancers working on productions which were paused under government rules.

It said it plans to reduce the number of those on furlough before the end of July, by bringing them back to work on several productions planned to restart over the coming weeks and months.

Around 70 productions were paused by the coronavirus pandemic. Top Gear has already resumed production and EastEnders is expected to begin filming again by the end of June, with other productions starting up again “as soon as it is practical to do so,” said BBC Studios.

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