Speaking at a press conference today, Boris Johnson said that socially distanced live indoor performances can resume from 1 August, advancing to stage four on the Culture Secretary’s reopening plan.

The Prime Minister said: "The timetable I am about to set out is conditional. It is contingent on all of us staying alert and continued success on controlling the virus.

"From 1 August, we will restart live indoor performances to a live audience subject to the success of pilots, and we will pilot larger gatherings, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn...From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence. These changes have to be made in a covid-secure way subject to pilots".

Johnson did say that local authorities will have the power to cancel events in their area if the local rate of transmission increases.

The PM also added that by November, at the earliest, the social distancing measures may be further relaxed or abolished if the virus is kept under control.