Kate is joining the BBC soap after a successful run on Coronation Street
Ex-Corrie producer Kate Oates ‘in talks’ to move to Walford and take over EastEnders (Image: BBC)
Former Coronation Street boss Kate Oates is set to join EastEnders as its new Executive Producer.
This comes after she left the rival ITV soap earlier this year after introducing a number of controversial and dark storylines .
Despite the criticism, Corrie enjoyed sky-high ratings during her reign on the soap.
On her appointment, Kate said: “Working across EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City is an amazing opportunity for me to have creative input into three of the UK’s leading dramas. I’m excited about meeting the teams and talent behind each show and can’t wait to get stuck in and tell some unmissable stories.”
The series producer, 39, announced she was leaving the cobbles earlier this year after two years, with Emmerdale boss Iain MacLeod stepping in as her replacement from June.
Kate Oates is set to join EastEnders (Image: ITV)
While many viewers praised her gritty storylines, such as Bethany Platt’s grooming and Aidan Connor’s suicide , some longtime viewers felt that the soap had lost its comedic roots.
Kate also previously enjoyed a long stint at Emmerdale and masterminded a number of huge storylines, including the award-winning Hotten bypass crash in 2016.
Her appointment at EastEnders will be praised by many fans, who have long called for her to join the BBC soap.
Mark Linsey, CCO, BBC Studios, said: “Kate is a dynamic, passionate and creative storyteller and I couldn’t be more thrilled that she’s joining BBC Studios to work with our fantastic teams at EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty.
“At EastEnders, she will be taking the baton from John Yorke, who stepped in to run the show on a temporary basis in June 2017. I’d like to personally thank him for the great job he’s done during this interim period. John will continue to work together with Kate to ensure a smooth handover until the end of the year, and we will be announcing his next role with us in the coming weeks.”
Kate left Coronation Street earlier this year after criticism over her ‘dark storylines’ (Image: PA)
(Image: ITV)
( Image: ITV)
Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content, said: “Kate Oates is a really thrilling appointment; she has a real passion for soaps and I have no doubt that her experience, creative flair and dynamism will excite the next generation of BBC One soap fans. I would like to thank John Yorke for everything he has done over the last year on EastEnders and I look forward to seeing Kate take over the creative baton.”
Piers Wenger, Controller, BBC Drama, said: “Kate’s track record for making continuing drama the nation’s most talked about TV is unrivalled and we are thrilled to welcome her dynamic creative leadership to EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty. Working closely with John Yorke in the coming months, we are particularly excited to see Kate unveil her plans for the residents of Albert Square. She’s going to be brilliant.”
