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Talking Heads viewers did a double take when the retro series was revived on Tuesday night, with some believing they were tuning into new EastEnders episodes.
While the BBC soap is currently off-air for the first time in its 35-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic, its sets have been used for the revival of Alan Bennet’s series of monologues.
The series first aired on the BBC during the 1980s, later featuring on Radio 4, but bosses had to get creative when it came to shooting the revival, as social distancing measures meant it was difficult to build new sets.
Instead, they made use of many familiar locations around Walford, as EastEnders’ studios have been out of action since production closed down on the soap in March.
Tuesday night’s double bill saw Imelda Staunton delivering a 30-minute monologue from Dot Branning’s living room, while Sarah Lancashire was later seen sitting in the Queen Vic kitchen.
It was almost full-circle for Sarah, who was finally back on the set of a soapland pub 24 years after she left her role as Rovers Return barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street.
Fans couldn’t quite believe their eyes...
Forthcoming episodes – which are already available to watch on BBC iPlayer – feature the likes of Jodie Comer, Rochenda Sandall, Martin Freeman, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Kristin Scott Thomas and Dame Harriet Walter in other iconic Walford locations.
Talking Heads’ series director Sir Nicholas Hytner said the stars also loved being on the set of the BBC soap, which is due to resume production at its studios in Elstree, Borehamwood later this month.
He told The Sun: “Some of these actors may be dames, but they’re still in showbusiness. All of them who had a chance to do a selfie in Albert Square or in the Queen Vic, they all did it.
“Martin Freeman was thrilled to perform his monologue in Dot Cotton’s bedroom. EastEnders viewers will see we changed some sets a lot, but some we couldn’t change much.”