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Anita Turner has been appointed as Emmerdale’s new Series Producer, the show announced on Thursday.

Current Producer, Kath Beedles, leaves the soap at the end of the year but will take on an important role in the drama department.

After three hugely successful years as Series Producer, one of Kath’s first projects is an Emmerdale-related spin off which she hopes to produce during 2008. Controller of Drama for ITV in Leeds, Keith Richardson, continues his role as Emmerdale’s Executive Producer.

Anita has worked in television for 20 years, beginning her career as a Production Assistant, and moving through the ranks as Production Manager, Researcher and Script Editor.

She has worked as Script Editor on both Emmerdale and Coronation Street and has also script edited Holby City. Most recently, Anita was the Development Editor and Script Editor on a new drama, Apparitions, produced by Liverpool based indie Lime Pictures.

Anita Turner, who joins the show in January, said: “Thirty five years and Emmerdale is still fantastic. Being given the chance to help it go from strength to strength is such an honour – I can’t wait.”

Coronation Street’s Producer, Steve Frost, is also leaving at the end of the year. Click here to read more

Director of ITV Productions, John Whiston, said: “It’s a time of change for the soaps. In the last couple of years under Steve and Kath and their teams, both soaps have defied gravity and held on to their massive audiences while all around were losing theirs. That is because they are the best written, performed and produced shows on television. The ratings and the awards speak for themselves.

"Both Steve and Kath are a terribly tough act to follow. That’s why we are all thrilled that we’ve got Kim and Anita to step into their shoes.

“These jobs require passion, judgment, diplomacy, invention and above all superhuman stamina. Kim and Anita have proved they have all these qualities in abundance and I know they can’t wait to take over ITV’s crown jewels.

“I’m also just as excited that we’ve persuaded Steve and Kath to stay within the Company. We will be unleashing them soon into the wider drama arena where I know they will deliver great new shows for ITV Productions.”

ITV.com