[Scarlett.]

Stuart Blackburn has been appointed as the new producer of Coronation Street, succeeding current boss Phil Collinson in the role.

Blackburn, who has been working as Emmerdale's series producer since early 2011, will take up the position in January.

Collinson, meanwhile, will remain at ITV in a new role working with Kieran Roberts to develop new drama from ITV's base in Manchester.

Speaking of his new post, Blackburn commented: "I'm in the very privileged position of producing Emmerdale's hour-long live episode to celebrate the programme's 40th birthday, and I get to produce Coronation Street too. Life just couldn't get any better.

"Emmerdale is a very special programme to me, as I was born and brought up in West Yorkshire. I'm in total admiration of the cast and production team as they are all incredibly talented people. They do an amazing job and I'll be sad to leave them.

"Coronation Street also has a place in my heart, as I believe passionately in storytelling, and although I recognise it's a massive responsibility, I have the best job in the world."

Phil Collinson added: "It's been an honour to produce Coronation Street and I'll be sad to leave. But the drama can only stay at the top of its game if the producer is re-energised every two to three years.

"By the time I say farewell I'll have been with the programme for nearly three years and produced almost 750 episodes. It's an achievement I'm hugely proud of, but I know I couldn't have done it without the amazing production team, writers, cast and crew who work tirelessly to produce the best drama on television. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.

"I wish Stuart every success, and look forward now to taking up my new role developing drama and producing brand new drama from our base in Manchester."

John Whiston, ITV Studios' creative director for soaps, paid tribute to both Collinson and Blackburn.

Whiston explained: "Phil Collinson leaves Coronation Street after nearly three memorable years. As the master of big events, Phil pulled off Coronation Street's 50th anniversary in amazing style and to universal acclaim - universal that is unless you were a character that died in the mangled wreckage of the tram!

"But he has also proved himself as a great peace time producer, filling the show with character, intrigue and traditional Coronation Street wit - so much so that Coronation Street won a string of prestigious awards to mark one of the most successful periods in the programme's history.

"It's a legacy to be proud of. We're pleased that he's staying with ITV to develop and produce new engaging drama out of Manchester."

He continued: "Stuart has overseen an Emmerdale that is modern, exciting, purposeful and dramatic - and in great shape as it approaches its 40th birthday. Stuart combines a real delight in and respect for the world of soap with a deep understanding of the nitty gritty of storytelling.

"These qualities make him an ideal choice to take on the equally demanding but very slightly different challenges of Coronation Street."

ITV will now begin the process to find a new producer for Emmerdale to take the rural soap beyond its 40th anniversary.

[Redway]

not sure whether to laugh or cry tbh

Glad to see Phil go as he's been crap (post-2010) but Stuart's been hardly anything to right home about, has he?

Luckily this guy will turn out to do a Bryan Kirkwood on the show and be good for Corrie

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Redway

not sure whether to laugh or cry tbh

Glad to see Phil go as he's been crap (post-2010) but Stuart's been hardly anything to right home about, has he?

Luckily this guy will turn out to do a Bryan Kirkwood on the show and be good for Corrie

I dunno, Stuart did kinda get thrust into the job at first, and it was his first producer gig, I think he's found his feet at Emmerdale now, he also followed on from Gavin Blyth, who was a legend lol. Phil started out great, but god, he's gotten crap now

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Chewy

I dunno, Stuart did kinda get thrust into the job at first, and it was his first producer gig, I think he's found his feet at Emmerdale now, he also followed on from Gavin Blyth, who was a legend lol. Phil started out great, but god, he's gotten crap now

precisely

i remember being gripped on end with his fantastic 2010 work, culminating in the tram week, but it went into a sort of depression if you like in april 2011 with all that nonsense about xin

basically it's been stuck in a rut ever since then, although that said he's a damnsite better than frost and crowther

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Redway

precisely

i remember being gripped on end with his fantastic 2010 work, culminating in the tram week, but it went into a sort of depression if you like in april 2011 with all that nonsense about xin

basically it's been stuck in a rut ever since then, although that said he's a damnsite better than frost and crowther

I agree, there's been patches since 2010, but overall it's been down in the dumps, he's also over done stunts and not concentrated enough on characters, and he's also over used typical soap 'tropes'

I did hear Kath Beedles (Emmerdale producer in 2006) was approached for the job but turned it down, which is a shame.

I hope Stuart gets the current titles changed, they're so....meeh at the moment, where as Emmerdale looks fantastic

Youtube video

[Redway]

Yeah, I definitely agree with the titles. They're so tacky and watered down.

Does anyone know who's replacing Stuart for Emmerdale, though?

[Scarlett.]

Yeah, they were good enough for the 50th as they seemed nostalgic, but now, they're crap, and outdated

No word on who is replacing Stuart at Emmerdale yet though

[Redway]

Let's just hope it's someone good. The show can only get better from here.

[Scarlett.]

I hope that Stuart brings in some actual good characters, at the moment in Corrie, Peter and Carla are the only stand out ones

[waterhog]

i hope emmerdale don't start going like EE and corri because that would be such ashame.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by waterhog

i hope emmerdale don't start going like EE and corri because that would be such ashame.

I reckon Emmerdale will find a good enough producer, plus there's hope Corrie will improve now with Stuart Blackburn coming over

[waterhog]

corri has gone down as of late - all i care about is emmerdale don't -

[Scarlett.]

He starts at Corrie today, and Kate Oates starts at Emmerdale.

[bbfan1991]

I look forward to random affair storylines... Norris and Tina? Gail and Tommy? Not!

Kathleen Beedles was still at HO when she was approached for the Corrie Producer job, she has now left but is still working at Lime Pictures in some capacity.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

I look forward to random affair storylines... Norris and Tina? Gail and Tommy? Not!

Kathleen Beedles was still at HO when she was approached for the Corrie Producer job, she has now left but is still working at Lime Pictures in some capacity.

I think Stuart Blackburn's couples in Emmerdale at least make sense

Stella and Jason? Sunita and Karl? Ryan and Tracy? All those were much worse than Marlon and Laurel in my opinion.

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Chewy

I think Stuart Blackburn's couples in Emmerdale at least make sense

Stella and Jason? Sunita and Karl? Ryan and Tracy? All those were much worse than Marlon and Laurel in my opinion.

Good point. Maurel are so annoying!

[Scarlett.]

I didnt mind them too much I think Stuart is more suited to Corrie.

[Scarlett.]

Spoilers for his first week on the cobbles

Episode 8099: Monday 8th April at 7.30pm

Eileen decides to take matters into her own hands.
Dev is told the results of Sunita’s post mortem.
Ken plans a celebratory family meal.

PROD CREDITS

WRITER: Simon Crowther
PRODUCER: Stuart Blackburn
DIRECTOR: Di Patrick

***

Episode 8100: Monday 8th April at 8.30pm

Eileen admits the truth to Paul.
Stella offers Dev support.
Faye is overjoyed after hearing Tim’s news.

PROD CREDITS

WRITER: Chris Fewtrell
PRODUCER: Stuart Blackburn
DIRECTOR: Di Patrick

***

Episode 8101: Wednesday 10th April at 7.30pm

Anxious Karl is left to babysit alone.
Eileen convinces Paul she can cope.
Rob and Peter are forced to let bygones be bygones.

PROD CREDITS

WRITER: Damon Rochefort
PRODUCER: Stuart Blackburn
DIRECTOR: Di Patrick

***

Episode 8102: Friday 12th April at 7.30pm

Will Karl confess the truth to Stella?
Chesney lashes out at Tim.
Eileen goes out of her mind with worry for Paul.

PROD CREDITS
WRITER: Ellen Taylor
PRODUCER: Stuart Blackburn
DIRECTOR: Di Patrick

***

Episode 8103: Friday 12th April at 8.30pm

Stella realises life is too short.
Dev is overwhelmed with grief.
And is this the end for Eileen and Paul?

PROD CREDITS

WRITER: Susan Oudot
PRODUCER: Stuart Blackburn
DIRECTOR: Di Patrick

***

[Ryan57]

Oh, he takes charge soon then. God help us all. Emmerdale is atrocious.

[waterhog]

ryan - emmerdale is the best thing on tv -

[Scarlett.]

I like his statement for Corrie, he wants the show to stop being nostalgic, and to start reflecting the modern world more.

[bbfan1991]

His vision sounds good and I actually hope he proves people wrong.

I think trying to turn Karl into this big soap villain all of a sudden is laughable, even though he has always had a bit of a dark edge to him. I cannot take him or the storyline seriously.

John Michie is a really good Actor and I wonder what the future for Karl holds if the truth about the fire ever comes out, which I am sure it will in typical soap style?

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

His vision sounds good and I actually hope he proves people wrong.

I think trying to turn Karl into this big soap villain all of a sudden is laughable, even though he has always had a bit of a dark edge to him. I cannot take him or the storyline seriously.

John Michie is a really good Actor and I wonder what the future for Karl holds if the truth about the fire ever comes out, which I am sure it will in typical soap style?

In my eyes, Karl isn't really a villain, he did something terrible and he's just covering his tracks.