Wendy Williams, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers shut down production of their chat shows ‘indefinitely’ over coronavirus fears

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, it’s been announced that a host of popular chat shows including those of Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and Wendy Williams are shutting down production ‘indefinitely.’

A state of emergency was announced in New York – where the shows are taped – due to the growing nature of the disease, which was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

Williams had already announced that her show was to be filmed without a live studio audience – but now bosses are going one step further and halting production.

According to Deadline, networks for the shows confirmed in statements that no new episodes will be filmed for the time being. 

Stephen Colbert’s show will also halt filming, whilst the LA-based shows of James Corden and Jimmy Kimmell will film without an audience.

NBC said they will pause production through the week of 23 March, adding: ‘We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make decisions about future shows as we get closer to the start of production.’

In a note to her staff, Williams wrote: ‘The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority. Considering the current escalation of the Coronavirus, production will be put on hold, indefinitely.

‘However, the office will remain open for you to pick up any materials or personal items. In place of live shows we will air repeats and we will continue to monitor the situation with the CDC and city officials to determine the best time to return and produce live shows again.’

This is just the latest in a long line of production difficulty and changes that the coronavirus has brought to the American TV and film industries