EastEnders star Max Bowden was not happy when he was woken up by builders continuing to work during the strict coronavirus lockdown.
The Ben Mitchell actor revealed he was having “palpitations” due to the current crisis and the workmen had made him feel worse.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country on lockdown on Monday evening but did not close down the nation’s building sites.
Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove added that “essential” work should continue but “common sense” to the spread of Covid-19 should be practised.
Questioning if the building work next door was essential work, Max tweeted: “So we’ve just gone into lockdown, I am peacefully sleeping trying not to have palpitations in light of the current state of the country….
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
“AND THE BUILDERS ARE BACK ROUND THE NEIGHBOURS DRILLING. DURING LOCKDOWN!?!? ESSENTIAL!?!?!?!”
Max, 25, and the rest of the EastEnders cast are not filming due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of episodes airing per week has been cut from 5 to 3, in order to keep the long-running BBC One soap on air as long as possible.
A BBC spokesperson said: “In light of the spread of COVID-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice. The decision was made after the latest government update.
“We will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England.
“We have also taken the decision to reduce the amount of episodes we broadcast each week to two, so that we can ensure the audience can continue to enjoy EastEnders in their homes for as long as possible.”
(Image: maxbowden/Twitter)
Despite the new rules issued by the PM, construction workers up and down the country are continuing to turn up to building sites across the country.
Mr Gove appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier this week.
The Cabinet Secretary told Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins: “Yes, there’s some essential construction work that needs to continue and it should be the case that with appropriate sensitivity that should continue – people can continue to work on new sites but we need people to take common sense.”
(Image: Getty Images)
“Anyone that should conceivably work, should.
“Major construction work should go ahead. We need to look at the nature of work that’s being done.”
But Mr Gove said work on homes when people are still inside was not “appropriate” and encouraged Brits to continue with social distancing.
EastEnders continues on BBC One on Monday at 8pm
