'No glam squad now': Why British TV hosts are doing their own make-up

With preventative measures in place around the world to try and curb the coronavirus pandemic, many people have found themselves working from home. But there are some people who cannot work in self-quarantine, but are also not deemed essential services that can go into the office. Among them are make-up artists: in the UK, several new shows and entertainment programmes are still filming, but with skeleton staff only allowed in studios. Thus, many of Britain's most famous faces have found themselves with a new title to add to their CV: hair and make-up. Alex Jones, who co-hosts the BBC's The One Show , was among the TV presenters paying tribute to their loyal teams who can no longer work in-house. "We can't have any make-up artists any more and it breaks my heart because after nearly a decade, our team of girls are very close friends and this is a game-changer for them financially," the Welsh presenter, 43, posted on her Instagram Stories this week. "Plus I'm terrible at doing makeup but #thistooshallpass, we'll be reunited soon and my face will be so grateful!" she added. The star said that co-host Chris Ramsey had also done his own make-up for the show. In the UK, there have been more than 9,500 confirmed cases of Covid-19, resulting in 465 deaths; 135 people have made recoveries. The British government this week imposed an indefinite lockdown on residents, with unnecessary movement banned for at least three weeks. Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who host ITV staple This Morning , also revealed this week that they have been doing their own hair and make-up, though they would continue filming the show as it was deemed an essential service. Schofield, 57, shared a video on his Instagram Stories of he and Willoughby, 39, prepping for broadcast on Monday, March 23. "Well this is a bit of a first ... no glam squad now, I've just made myself up," said Schofield, before asking his co-star, "do I look alright?" “I think you look like you. Do I look like me?” Willoughby responded. The pair have also practised social distancing on screen, standing two metres apart while the show airs. During Monday's broadcast, guest Matthew Wright, a fellow presenter, revealed he'd also done his own make-up. BBC news journalist Yalda Hakim was another presenter to pay tribute to the hair and make-up staff currently in self-isolation. "Missing the amazing team who work tirelessly to make us look presentable on air. Flying solo now - be kind as we try and figure this thing out," the Afghanistan-born presenter posted on Twitter, alongside an image of her wrangling with a hair tool. For other TV stars, the lockdown in Britain has resulted in a need to stock on on beauty essentials. TV presenter and journalist Ranvir Singh revealed on Instagram that she was loading up on root concealer spray, with hairdressers around the UK shutting up shop. Susanna Reid, who co-presents Good Morning Britain , has been broadcasting from home as she remains in self-isolation, after a family member developed a cough. In a column for the Daily Mail , she revealed she was "stocking up on hair dye and root touch-up". "I've also popped some extra spray tan on my delivery order."

'No glam squad now': Why British TV hosts are doing their own make-up

Holly Willoughby and Alex Jones are among the stars doing their own hair and make-up as TV stations send non-essential staff into self-quarantine