Coronavirus latest: BBC to stop filming all dramas like Eastenders

Filming on all BBC Studios' continuing dramas - Casualty, Doctors, EastEnders, Holby City, Pobol y Cwm and River City - will be suspended following the latest Government update about coronavirus, the BBC has said.

Meanwhile, one of Britain's biggest food and pub companies has said that sales are "getting worse by the day" as several big pub chains warned of the impact of coronavirus.

Wagamama-owner The Restaurant Group, which also runs several pub-restaurants across the country, said that like-for-like sales were down 12.5% in the last two weeks.

It was joined on Wednesday morning by Marston's, which runs 1,400 pubs and warned that Government advice to avoid eating or drinking out would cause "significantly lower sales in the coming weeks".

Mitchells & Butler, owner of Toby Carvery and All Bar One, warned that "recent trading has been severely impacted" by coronavirus, adding that the Government's advice to stay home "is now expected to lead to a further significant downturn in sales".

Marston's said that Chancellor Rishi Sunak's promises on Tuesday to slash business rates and provide loans to firms that need them were "good progress towards the very significant commitment which the hospitality sector requires from the Government".

Mitchells & Butler said it was "encouraged" by the Chancellor's statements, and The Restaurant Group said it was building the rates relief into its forecasts for the next year.