[Scarlett.]

After 3 years Producer Stuart Blackburn is saying goodbye to Coronation Street, handing over the reigns to Emmerdale’s Kate Oates.



During his time as Coronation Street’s Producer Stuart has overseen an array of significantly memorable storylines. These have included the death of Hayley Cropper, the devastating minibus crash and the explosive fire at Carla’s flat in Victoria Court.

Stuart Blackburn will remain with ITV and ITV Studios and will continue to produce Coronation Street until he leaves in the New Year including producing the live episode on Wednesday 23 September.

Stuart is the only Producer in modern soap history to produce two live episodes and also guided Coronation Street to two successive BAFTA wins.

“I’ve loved every minute of producing Coronation Street,” said Stuart. “What a rollercoaster ride the last three years has been. We’ve met every challenge along the way and I can’t praise the cast, crew and writers highly enough for rising to the occasion with each storyline.

He continued: “For the next few months my focus will remain entirely on all things Corrie, as we have massive stories coming up taking us in to the Spring and Summer of 2016. I wish my friend Kate well in her role as she takes on one of the best jobs in television.”

Coronation Street’s Executive Producer and ITV’s Creative Director of Drama in the North, Kieran Roberts said:

"Stuart has been a wonderful Producer of Coronation Street and a fantastic colleague. The skill, professionalism and care he has brought to the job shows in everything he does.”



Kate Oates takes over as Producer in the New Year. A former Producer of Radio 4’s The Archers from 2003-2010, Kate has successfully produced Emmerdale since January 2013. She previously worked as Coronation Street’s Assistant Producer following a stint as Emmerdale’s Story Editor and is passionate about both soaps.

“I’m delighted to accept the role as Coronation Street’s new Producer,” said Kate. “It’s really exciting to be moving from one amazing soap to another and I feel very blessed.”

Managing Director, Continuing Drama John Whiston commented: “Everywhere you go these days everyone is talking about Emmerdale. Kate Oates has been responsible for the show’s on-going resurgence. She has that rare combination, a sharp editorial eye for a compelling story together with deep understanding of what drives characters caught up in such drama.”

Iain MacLeod will become the new Emmerdale Producer. This appointment will take effect at the end of this year.

ITV

Excited for this, Corrie's needed a change for a long time

[Black Dagger]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

**** off you absolute show spoiling kuhnt. Gutted for Emmerdale though, Kate has been incredible. Save Corrie pls <33333333333.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by _LucasMichael_

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

**** off you absolute show spoiling *******. Gutted for Emmerdale though, Kate has been incredible. Save Corrie pls <33333333333.

I like the pattern they've established though, letting them move from Emmerdale to Corrie. I think Stuart Blackburn's years were boring, but kinda necessary, the show got kinda OTT after Collinson.

[Firewire]

Someone from Hollyoaks is replacing Kate. Hope it doesn't turn into a teen fest.

[Ashley.]

Noooooo! I was loving Kate Oates in Emmerdale.

[Drew.]

Yes!!!!!!!!! **** off Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank god, Emmerdale can return to its natural roots once again and this whole crime drama type show its turned into can now end

[Drew.]

Terrible news for Corrie though, i hope they are ready for shootings going on and affairs happening on a weekly basis.

[Jack.]

I wonder what big stunts she's got planned for corrie, we had the siege and helicopter crash with emmerdale, I'm going for Jenny Bradley to come back go mental again and set Kevin's house alight

[Drew.]

However, recently the show has been under fire from critics and viewers as sensationalist 'gangster' plots have seen the show lose much of its humour.

Lol Corrie viewers are in for such a shock, they've been switching off due to this Calum & the Platts storyline which is so tame in comparison to the amount of crime and violence Kate produces on Emmerdale. Emmerdale hasn't had any humour in it since she took over.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Drew.

Lol Corrie viewers are in for such a shock, they've been switching off due to this Calum & the Platts storyline which is so tame in comparison to the amount of crime and violence Kate produces on Emmerdale. Emmerdale hasn't had any humour in it since she took over.

Kinda makes a bit more sense in Corrie's setting though, lol.

[Rob!]

Perched for a asteroid to land on the rovers

[Rob!]

Seriously though, she's a much better producer than Stuart Blackburn. I've barely watched Corrie since he took over.

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Kinda makes a bit more sense in Corrie's setting though, lol.

Majority of Emmedales new viewers are teenage girls creating twitter accounts calling themselves Robron fans.. Kates seems to be aiming towards a younger audience now. So good luck with Corrie which also has a load of older viewers who can't even handle Calum.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Drew.

Majority of Emmedales new viewers are teenage girls creating twitter accounts calling themselves Robron fans.. Kates seems to be aiming towards a younger audience now. So good luck with Corrie which also has a load of older viewers who can't even handle Calum.

Stuff like that always happens, it happened with Sophie and Sian in Corrie, lol

[Rob!]

Social media is a booming business though and young people are the majority of people that use it. It's pretty shrewd tbh. Not that this means I want Queen Emily to have any more reduced screen time

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Stuff like that always happens, it happened with Sophie and Sian in Corrie, lol

Not to the extreme fans of Robert and Aaron have gone to. Thats just an example though, her target audience no longer seems to be a wide range.. it seems to be for a younger audience now.

[Natalie.]

Emily and Rita to break bad

[EspeonBB]

Good news for Corrie. It's been **** ever since that guy took over

[Rob!]

Originally Posted by Natalie.

Emily and Rita to break bad

Originally Posted by EspeonBB

Good news for Corrie. It's been **** ever since that guy took over

[Gstar]

Stuart Blackburn has been absolutely awful. I don't watch Emmerdale but it's apparently really good so this can only be positive

[reece(:]

I hope Kate doesn't take the humour away from Corrie though, glad Blackburn is gone.

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by reece(:

I hope Kate doesn't take the humour away from Corrie though, glad Blackburn is gone.

Yeah, she pretty much took humour out of Emmerdale and changed the characters that were known for their humour and took it out of them

[Cal.]

Emmerdale is amazing I'm excited to see her on Corrie

[Cal.]

On a more positive note tho I hope the Hollyoaks producer begs Charlie Hardwick to come back and brings Val back from the dead bc honestly I wouldn't care about how unrealistic it was as long as we got her back