Coronation Street bosses have been forced to speak out over reports that Executive Producer, Kate Oates, is facing the axe from the ITV soap.
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Today’s edition of The Sun quotes a show insider saying that the former boss of The Archers and Emmerdale is ‘a dead woman walking’ and ‘it’s become a case of not if but when for Kate.’
The report says that top dogs at Corrie have been disappointed with the lack of awards the show has taken home since Kate took over in 2016.
Corrie’s also had a deluge of criticism after airing some dark storylines like Pat Phelan’s reign of terror and the upcoming drug-rape of David Platt.
Long term fans have even threatened to boycott the soap over the David plot which kicked of last night with the arrival of newcomer, Josh.
It’s not just audiences that have hit out at the grittier stuff, former Corrie actor Bruce Jones who played Les Battersby claimed he no longer watches the goings on in Weatherfield as it’s too much.
“The shootings and stabbings went too far,” he told SunOnline. “The violence when I was there wasn’t as bad as that.
“I don’t know why it’s gone that way. I can’t watch any more because it’s too violent.”
And veteran TV star Michael Parkinson said Phelan’s brutal execution of Andy Carver made him ‘recoil.’
In a statement ITV Studios’ Creative Director John Whiston said: “In the last two years Kate Oates has transformed Coronation Street in the same way as she transformed Emmerdale when she was there.
“The show is now chock full of gripping, talked about storylines, is tackling groundbreaking social issues and, most importantly for a commercial channel such as ITV is delivering strong ratings, Coronation’s audience share is up year on year, an impressive feat for a 57 year old soap on our screens six times a week.”
Corrie achieved its highest audience in 18 months last summer when Bethany Platt’s grooming storyline came to a climax.
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Actress Lucy Fallon – who plays Bethany – walked away with the prestigious Serial Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards earlier this week.
Coronation Street continues Monday at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV