Kate Oates divided fans as executive producer on Coronation Street – and she’s about to shake up the BBC soaps too!
She has just been announced as the new senior executive producer on EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City – and it’s bound to be a controversial decision.
Kate, who also previously produced ITV soap Emmerdale and BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, will take up her role in October.
The decision is bound to cause ripples in the soap world, as many fans criticised her while at the helm of Corrie.
Viewers accused her of moving away from the soap’s traditional humour and making storylines “too dark” as she introduced Bethany Platt’s grooming plot, Pat Phelan’s murdering rampage, David Platt’s rape and Aidan Connor’s suicide.
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However, the ratings only went up under her management.
Kate stepped down from Coronation Street in April this year, after two years on the soap.
At the time, she said she was “excited” to move forward, as Emmerdale boss Iain MacLeod took over her role.
She said: “Being a part of Coronation Street has quite simply been one of the best experiences of my life. I am proud of the stories we have told and the impact they have had – and I’ve had a ball working with one of the best and most talented teams in television.”
Kate Oates – highly regarded and multi award-winning former producer of Coronation Street and Emmerdale is to join BBC Studios as Senior Executive Producer, overseeing primetime continuing dramas @bbceastenders @BBCHolbyCity and @BBCCasualty https://t.co/cI3KYMBI2l pic.twitter.com/DEixPINdsF
— BBC Studios (@bbcstudios) August 8, 2018
John Yorke has been acting as EastEnders’ temporary executive consultant since last year, and Kate will be working closely with him when she arrives.
The 39-year-old 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.”
Charlotte Moore, director of 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.”
Controller of BBC Drama, Piers Wenger, teased that Kate will be “unveiling her plans for the residents of Albert Square”.
The announcement follows rumours earlier this year that Kate was jumping from ITV’s Bancroft to the BBC.
Fans certainly seemed happy with one tweeting: “Might start watching eastenders again now.”
Others called it a “result” and “brilliant news”.
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