Soap bosses in a pickle as actors transform their hair in lockdown

Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars have left soap bosses in a quandary after drastically altering their hairstyles while they’ve been off because of the coronavirus.

Production on the ITV soaps was halted amid the pandemic and many cast members took the opportunity to try out different looks.

Some, such as Corrie’s Tina O'Brien, have tried out different colours, and others, including Emmerdale actor Danny Miller, have shaved their heads.

Read more: Filming on EastEnders to resume

But with production cranking up again, bosses now have to figure out how to explain the characters’ sudden transformations.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, John Whiston, ITV’s managing director of continuing drama, said: “Most of the cast decided for some reason to shave their heads, and all the female cast decided to dye their hair puce, which is a problem when everyone is coming back to work!

“'How did his hair get like that?’”

Whiston revealed writers have addressed Miller’s new look by adding in some lines that will see other characters teasing Aaron over his transformation.

Read more: Emmerdale’s Michelle Hardwick pregnant

It was announced last month that Emmerdale has resumed filming with social distancing measures in place, and that it will make a set of special lockdown episodes set against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Corrie cast and crew members recently went back to work and the cameras are due to start rolling next week.

However, members of cast and crew with any underlying health condition or those over 70 are not returning immediately.

The programme is undertaking a risk assessment on a case by case basis to allow them to return to work.