Former Coronation Street producer Kate Oates is the new senior executive producer on EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City, BBC Studios has announced.
Oates, who also previously produced ITV soap Emmerdale and BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, will take up her role in October.
She stepped down from Coronation Street in April this year, after two years on the soap, which saw her preside over highly-publicised storylines including villain Pat Phelan’s reign of terror, Aidan Connor’s suicide and teenager Bethany Platt’s grooming.
John Yorke, EastEnders’ previous executive producer, has been the soap’s temporary executive consultant since last year.
Oates will work closely with Yorke in the coming months before taking over EastEnders.
Oates 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, 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.”
Piers Wenger, controller, BBC Drama, added: “Kate’s track record for making continuing drama the nation’s most talked about TV is unrivalled and we are thrilled to welcome her dynamic creative leadership to EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty.”
He added that the BBC is “particularly excited to see Kate unveil her plans for the residents of Albert Square” and that she is “going to be brilliant”.
Mark Linsey, CCO of BBC Studios, thanked Yorke for stepping in to run the show in June last year.
He added: “I’d like to personally thank him for the great job he’s done during this interim period.
“John will continue to work together with Kate to ensure a smooth handover until the end of the year, and we will be announcing his next role with us in the coming weeks.”
Oates, who started her career as a researcher and editorial assistant for Germaine Greer before working as a researcher for former soap Crossroads, is currently producing the second series of ITV drama Bancroft.
