With production on shows already halted today through a 36-hour strike, broadcast union Bectu and Amicus say if another strike, planned for next weekend, goes ahead, "the number of episodes in hand will be dangerously low".
The warning comes as the unions seek to entice ITV bosses back to the negotiations to win an improved pay offer on the 3.3% that has already been put on the table.
Bectu has confirmed picket lines have remained firm in Leeds, Manchester and London today, leaving shooting abandoned on 'Coronation Street', 'Emmerdale' and 'Heartbeat'. The union concedes that, because shows are recorded well in advance, it will take more than this first wave of strike activity to significantly affect the backlog of episodes.
Other shows affected this weekend include ITV's two Saturday evening live programmes, 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' and 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Evening Takeaway'.
Ant and Dec's show was recorded last night in advance and 'Hit Me Baby' has been saved after a deal to hire BBC studio and staff. Bectu is urging any BBC union staff working on the 80s nostalgia show to "rigorously observe job descriptions and limits on working time."
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