Kate Oates to leave Corrie Producer role, Emmerdale's Iain McLeod to take over

[Scarlett.]

CORRIE boss Kate Oates has quit the soap after growing pressure over controversial storylines and viewers’ complaints.

In January, we told how the show’s cast and crew were furious over a lack of awards and the dark direction it had gone in.

Some had labelled her a “dead woman walking” and long-serving stars were said to be unhappy about newer cast members being handed gritty storylines.

Kate, 38, confirmed to The Sun she had resigned after two years at the show’s helm, just four months after ITV tried to deny the initial story.

During her tenure, big-name stars Catherine Tyldesley, Shayne Ward and Debbie Rush have all quit.

Storylines featuring villain Pat Phelan, played by Connor McIntyre, 57, have also upset loyal fans, including Sir Michael Parkinson, 83.

A source said: “It was always a matter of when, not if, with Kate going, and now it’s been confirmed she’s leaving.

“There’s a feeling of jumping before she was pushed. But she is staying within the ITV family.

“The storylines she worked on, while rating successes, were very divisive among viewers and the cast and crew. Everyone is looking forward to seeing what the future on the soap looks like now.”

Kate is now moving to work on ITV cop series Bancroft, starring Sarah Parish, 49.

She said: “I’ll be forever grateful for this opportunity and all it has given me, but I’m also excited to try something new.”

She will be replaced by current Emmerdale show chief Iain MacLeod, who has led the show to a number of awards including a TV BAFTA and back-to-back National Television Award wins.

Iain will start his new role on Corrie, now Britain’s most popular soap, in June.

John Whiston, ITV Studios’ Creative Director, praised Kate’s “brilliant editorial touch” in dealing with the Bethany Platt grooming storyline, and David Platt’s rape.

The Sun

Wish ITV would stop giving their main soap the Emmerdale producers, who have likely used a lot of story ideas on Emmerdale already.

It's a very quick changeover this time, since Iain's first episodes will likely air July/August.

[Ross.]

I've really liked McLeod's work on Emmerdale so it's a shame he's going, hopefully the next producer continues the good work

Kate's vision was just too dark for a show like Corrie and that's ultimately been her downfall

[Denver]

I'd have her on EE but they storylines will just be rehashes of what she already done

[Scarlett.]

As much as I've liked Kate's storylines, the darkness in the show has felt unrelenting at times

[Rob!]

I’m actually sad about this. I’ve really enjoyed Corrie under Oates.

[Ross.]

I’m actually sad about this. I’ve really enjoyed Corrie under Oates.

You're the only one who has darling

[Scarlett.]

I've also mostly liked Oates work too, I have felt she pushes on the dark side of the soap a little to hard like the upcoming story twist where

David is jailed

[Marsh.]

How strange.

Didn't she literally just say on This Morning that she has at least 12 months left on Corrie? :think:

BBC stole ha?

[Scarlett.]

How strange.

Didn't she literally just say on This Morning that she has at least 12 months left on Corrie? :think:

BBC stole ha?
Yep, it was expected she'd leave next year, now she's suddenly leaving in June. She is going to become producer on another ITV Drama though

[Rob!]

You're the only one who has darling

Corrie has been consolidating to near 9m since Kate took over next to Eastenders' 6m so clearly not darling.

[Marsh.]

Not Corrie being lumbered with Emmerdale's cast-offs again? :skull:

[Rob!]

I'm sure the producer who threw acid in Ross Barton's face is going to be much more lighthearted than Kate Oates.

[Marsh.]

So Iain took some of Kate's work and beat people over the head with it (Robron, Ross) so I expect when he takes over he'll push David, Bethany and Carla/Peter even more.

[Rob!]

I'm worried for our Moira :worry:

[Rob!]

Mind you, a bit of mad axing could do Corrie the world of good.

[Scarlett.]

I hope Corrie gets a fresh producer in 2020 for the anniversary eps

[Marsh.]

Mind you, a bit of mad axing could do Corrie the world of good.

Fiz, Michelle, Sean, Tyrone, Maria all KILLED please.

Kate Oates to do a mass killing spree as one final act of darkness before she leaves?

[Scarlett.]

I'm sure the producer who threw acid in Ross Barton's face is going to be much more lighthearted than Kate Oates.

She goes a bit overboard like with Billy, falling off a cliff wasnt enough, he also had to get addicted to painkillers and heroin before he got better, or David, he wasnt just raped, he also lost control in a boxing match and ends up in prison

[Marsh.]

Just read in the DS article that she's already gone. :skull:

Definitely a SOC-type mess here.

[Firewire]

She isn't welcome in Walford!

[LukeB]

Fiz, Michelle, Sean, Tyrone, Maria all KILLED please.

Kate Oates to do a mass killing spree as one final act of darkness before she leaves?

Revenge because no one likes her?

[Marsh.]

I might give Bancroft a go.

I imagine a producer like Kate Oates would probably work better in a serialised drama, as her type of vision can get muddled on a soap.

Like the production values of an 8 part drama would've probably made the Phelan plot brilliant and engrossing, but on Corrie it veered from laughable to ridiculous.

[Scarlett.]

Just read in the DS article that she's already gone. :skull:

Definitely a SOC-type mess here.

It's so odd, Blackburn drove the show into the ground, yet he didnt get kicked off

[Ross.]

Corrie has been consolidating to near 9m since Kate took over next to Eastenders' 6m so clearly not darling.

Quality over quantity, darling!

There has clearly been some backstage drama, along with all the criticism of the show from viewers and the icons

I'm Helen Worth threatening to quit getting Kate the sack

[Ross.]

I'm sure the producer who threw acid in Ross Barton's face is going to be much more lighthearted than Kate Oates.

But no one is saying Corrie can't have those stories? She just took it to extreme levels that just don't work with a show like Corrie, there's no heart

[LaLaLand]

I've quite liked this dark era of Corrie yano, feels more real in terms of what it's supposed to actually be... a kind of run-down Manchester back street with dodgy characters. But eh, whatever.

[Denver]

Grannies don't wanna watch the gritty stuff

[Ross.]

LukeB needs to back me up here

https://i.imgur.com/EiWuFHl.png

[Marsh.]

It's so odd, Blackburn drove the show into the ground, yet he didnt get kicked off

Seems odd for them to treat her like this, regardless of people's opinions on her work, she can't be seen as anything other than a big success for Corrie.

[Marsh.]

Quality over quantity, darling!

There has clearly been some backstage drama, along with all the criticism of the show from viewers and the icons

I'm Helen Worth threatening to quit getting Kate the sack

Helen Worth loves Kate Oates work. :nono:

[Ross.]

Helen Worth loves Kate Oates work. :nono:

She did until Kate chased her down the corridor shouting "LADY! LADY!"

[LukeB]

But no one is saying Corrie can't have those stories? She just took it to extreme levels that just don't work with a show like Corrie, there's no heart

Yeah exactly

every soap has their dark storylines but corrie has done it the most and it's a bit too far.

Ross's acid attack is nothing compared to Rita and Rob getting cancer back to back, Billy's drug addiction after surviving that cliff,Bethany's grooming plot,David gets raped and Pat's ridiculously longed storyline, all of this happened back to back. Pretty sure a lot of viewers are fed up of it because that isn't really corrie?

[Marsh.]

She did until Kate chased her down the corridor shouting "LADY! LADY!"

:laugh2:

[Marsh.]

Yeah exactly

every soap has their dark storylines but corrie has done it the most and it's a bit too far.

Ross's acid attack is nothing compared to Rita and Rob getting cancer back to back, Billy's drug addiction after surviving that cliff,Bethany's grooming plot,David gets raped and Pat's ridiculously longed storyline, all of this happened back to back. Pretty sure a lot of viewers are fed up of it because that isn't really corrie?

@Rob!

:spin:

[Ross.]

Yeah exactly

every soap has their dark storylines but corrie has done it the most and it's a bit too far.

Ross's acid attack is nothing compared to Rita and Rob getting cancer back to back, Billy's drug addiction after surviving that cliff,Bethany's grooming plot,David gets raped and Pat's ridiculously longed storyline, all of this happened back to back. Pretty sure a lot of viewers are fed up of it because that isn't really corrie?

*Rob slips on all this tea on the floor*

[LukeB]

*Rob slips on all this tea on the floor*

I forgot to mention Daniel pushing Ken down the stairs and acting like a psycho

Give the viewers some comedy and less of dark, not here for Sarah abusing her baby storyline after David's dark storyline has finished.

[Marsh.]

Sarah's abusing her baby? D:

[LukeB]

Sarah's abusing her baby? D:

it's not an actual storyline, it's the only thing i could think of since gail's kids are having them back to back :skull:

[Scarlett.]

I just hope this super quick changeover wont affect the show too bad, since by the sounds of it, Kate is already gone

[reece(:]

Rosie wasn't enough for the comedy of Corrie

[Marsh.]

it's not an actual storyline, it's the only thing i could think of since gail's kids are having them back to back :skull:

Well you just showed the whole world you're actually even darker than the Good Sis Oates.

https://i.imgur.com/XgZIvVt.gif

[Ross.]

Well you just showed the whole world you're actually even darker than the Good Sis Oates.

https://i.imgur.com/XgZIvVt.gif

:joker:

[LukeB]

Well you just showed the whole world you're actually even darker than the Good Sis Oates.

https://i.imgur.com/XgZIvVt.gif

i don't repeat my darknesss
https://i.imgur.com/XgZIvVt.gif

[Wizard.]

I never used to watch Corrie that much until Kate Oates took over then I was gripped. Oh well if they want to trade ratings for reviews then I'm sure Eastenders could do with a few more viewers.

[LukeB]

reviews gets you awards, ratings don't

[Scarlett.]

I hope Iain is good at Corrie, because, by the looks of it, he's gonna be responsible for the 60th Anniversary

[Marsh.]

I'm pretty sure ITV would rather bank the cheques from the advertising revenue of their ratings smashing episodes than put up a glass ball they were given from Philip Schofield at the Soap Awards.

[Wizard.]

reviews gets you awards, ratings don't

Well seeing as ITV depends on ratings for increased ad revenue I'm surprised they would prefer awards over ratings.

[Wizard.]

I'm pretty sure ITV would rather bank the cheques from the advertising revenue of their ratings smashing episodes than put up a glass ball they were given from Philip Schofield at the Soap Awards.

And they haven't even been doing THAT badly at the awards I swear they've come second behind Emmerdale, another ITV soap. Why are they so competitive in a two horse race between their own shows?

[Ross.]

I'm pretty sure ITV would rather bank the cheques from the advertising revenue of their ratings smashing episodes than put up a glass ball they were given from Philip Schofield at the Soap Awards.

DON'T come for Philip like this!

[Wizard.]

I'd rather have a dragged out storyline about a serial killer that grips me than watch Hollyoaks which changes storylines more than a teenage girl changes sanitary towels.

[Marsh.]

DON'T come for Philip like this!

I'm just saying loov.

[Denver]

I'd rather have a dragged out storyline about a serial killer that grips me than watch Hollyoaks which changes storylines more than a teenage girl changes sanitary towels.

HO at least does great storyline and stand alone episodes

[Marsh.]

Yeah, tbh the last time I moaned about EE having flash in the pan stories and how I missed the days when a plot would actually be followed over a long period and would lead onto other stories and actually have an effect rather than stop/start we got the Lucy plot, which I still don't think actually had an ending?

Edit - Actually, I don't know why I'm complaining, until SOC got his grubby hands on the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it even the bonkers bits.

[LukeB]

Perrie's homeless episode was fantastic and it was great to see praise for it.

[Scarlett.]

And they haven't even been doing THAT badly at the awards I swear they've come second behind Emmerdale, another ITV soap. Why are they so competitive in a two horse race between their own shows?

(and soaps which share producers :laugh:)

[Rob!]

I am NOT getting into an argument about all this but you’re all talking ****e

[Rob!]

Except the ones who are agreeing with me

[Cal.]

She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. She’s been a bloody great producer for ITV for 5 years now.

[LukeB]

Oop Iain use to work on hollyoaks

[Greg!]

Get ha on EastEnders! Her darker storyline ideas would work better in that show than Corrie

[Cal.]

We’re happy with John Yorke thanks!

[LukeB]

Kate will make Max like bloody pat and make the storyline go on for loooong so no thanks.

[Greg!]

We’re happy with John Yorke thanks!

We are but he's a temporary girly.

[Greg!]

EastEnders needs a lil more misery she's been a bit too upbeat recently and it doesn't suit her.

[Denver]

Apparently he is planning on axing a lot of younger stars and making is a senior oriented show again

[Scarlett.]

Just what the show doesn't need. Don't get me wrong, the show should have scenes with older character, but they also need to stop riding on the coattails of a bygone era. The Duckworth Shrine is ridiculous, Jack and Vera were great but they've both nearly been gone 10 years.

[Wizard.]

Apparently he is planning on axing a lot of younger stars and making is a senior oriented show again

This is why I never used to watch it :conf:

[Marsh.]

McLeod thee of former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale' resident Robron fanboy?

No. He isn't going to axe the youngsters.

[Nicky91]

McLeod thee of former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale' resident Robron fanboy?

No. He isn't going to axe the youngsters.

that would also be stupid, cause youngsters have most future for further more years


perhaps some of the oldies will be killed off ;)

[Marsh.]

that would also be stupid, cause youngsters have most future for further more years


perhaps some of the oldies will be killed off ;)

Get them dinosaurs. :clap1:

[Rob!]

Nicki channeling the asteroids?

[LukeB]

axe bloody Kym Marsh!!!

[Marsh.]

Saw a big headline about her on one of the newspapers in the shop earlier. They're going a bit mad aren't they?

She's only a producer at the end of the day, no need to hound her. She's clearly done a lot right or the viewing figures wouldn't be so high.

A lot of the same people bleating about the darkness are right there edge of their seats during a major episode in the Phelan saga.

[Marsh.]

axe bloody Kym Marsh!!!

Omg lovely words. :love: