Heartbeat TV Series

[shylock73]

Are actors still allowed to smoke in a pub whilst doing a scene, like `Ventrist` in this evenings episode?. The `Top Gear` crew got fined I believe for smoking pipes in one show.

[THECORBYLOON]

Yes for Heartbeat see here http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Media-and-TV/TV /Question621875.html

[Rtaxron]

Its allowed if its part of the show,
Corrie is one of the worst for actors smoking..

[puddicat]

Why do they let dot from eastenders smoke on screen??, she is a heavy smoker in real life,she isnt anything special think that she has a smoking clause written into her contract!!!

[shylock73]

One rule for them, another rule for us eh? Typical, so it doesn`t matter if other actors get lung problems from inhaling their poisons.

[Ethel]

It is very rare for a set to be a small space. Not all the cast will be in the same place for any length of time.

The police station in Hearbeat is in an enormous studio, and Ventris, for example, can only smoke on set during filming.

Tv sets are usually extremely well ventilated, because of the amount of heat generated from studio lights.

It is not the same as working in a small space for 8 a days, 5 days a week with a couple of heavy smokers, or even in a large pub with lots of smokers.

[chessington]

I agree about the smoking ban etc etc but in a programme set in a different era to us now they have to let it happen to make it real for that time, ot they may as well give the cast mobile phones, ipods and microwaves, if no one was smoking in the pub etc on heartbeat (I don't even watch it now) it would not seem real for the 60's 70's, the programme always did have a 60's feel to it. I have wondered myself how they get round the smoking ban in programmes and films set before the smoking ban as not all the cast smoke and inhale other cast smoke hope i make sense.

[BJS]

I was thinking about posting a question on TV smoking myself and as you say in Coronation St there are at least 5 characters who smoke and again in series of past times like Life on Mars etc. I wundered if the cigarettes are in fact real or just props.

[chessington]

hi can you honestly see Dot or Deirdre smoking fake fags lol but you never know I suppose