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Kate Oates (born 1979 or 1980) is a British
television producer
A television producer is a person who oversees one or more aspects of video production on a television show, television program. Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television net ...
, who was born in
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
and graduated from
Warwick University
, mottoeng = Mind moves matter
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £7.0 million (2021)
, budget = £698.2 million (2020 ...
. She began her career working as a
researcher
Research is " creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness ...
and editorial assistant for
Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer (; born 29 January 1939) is an Australian writer and public intellectual, regarded as one of the major voices of the radical feminist movement in the latter half of the 20th century.
Specializing in English and women's literatu ...
, before becoming a script editor for the soap opera ''
Crossroads
Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to:
* Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet
Film and television Films
* ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa
* ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...
''. In 2003, she joined the radio soap ''
The Archers
''The Archers'' is a BBC radio drama on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural settin ...
'' as a producer, a position which Oates credits as the majority of her training. After resigning from this job, Oates began working on the ITV soap opera ''
Emmerdale
''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...
'' as a script editor, during which time she assisted with the soap's fortieth anniversary celebrations and worked on
British Soap Award
The British Soap Awards (BSAs) are an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom which honours the best moments in British soap operas. The ceremony is televised on ITV and has been presented by Phillip Schofield since 2006. The trophies give ...
-winning storylines. She remained in the position until 2012 when she joined ''
Coronation Street
''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford.
Origi ...
'' as the assistant producer.
In October 2012, Oates was announced as the series producer of ''Emmerdale'', a position she began three months later. As series producer, Oates oversaw a surge in the popularity of the programme. Her duration at ''Emmerdale'' received positive acclaim from critics of the genre. She resigned from the show and left in December 2015. After leaving ''Emmerdale'', Oates transferred to ''Coronation Street'' as the series producer, a move which was praised by ITV personnel. While in the position, the show's ratings and critical acclaim increased, although Oates' darker storylines received mixed critical response and led to the soap being reported to
Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-ranging powers acros ...
for the inclusion of violent imagery during the
pre-watershed time frame. Oates announced her resignation from ''Coronation Street'' in April 2018, where it was announced that she would join production company Tall Story Pictures producing series 2 of ''
Bancroft''.
Oates' hiring by the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
as the senior
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
of ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...
'', ''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'' and ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
'' was announced in August 2018. With the announcement came praise from multiple personnel of the BBC, including the BBC's director of content,
Charlotte Moore. Oates' primary responsibility in the position is her work on ''EastEnders'' alongside executive producer
Jon Sen
Jon Sen (born 9 October 1974) is a British television and film director, writer and producer. After working as the executive producer of the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2018 to 2022, Sen began working as the executive producer of the BBC ...
. She was later promoted to Head of Continuing Drama at
BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Worldwide. ...
in 2019, overseeing six BBC soap operas and dramas, remaining in creative control of ''EastEnders''.
Early life
Oates was born in
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
She attended
Ockbrook School
Ockbrook School was an independent coeducational day and boarding school for children aged 3–18 years situated in rural Derbyshire between the cities of Nottingham and Derby. Boarding was for boys and girls from age 11–18 years. On Monday 7 J ...
and
Warwick University
, mottoeng = Mind moves matter
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £7.0 million (2021)
, budget = £698.2 million (2020 ...
, where she graduated with an English and Theatre degree.
Actress
Rosie Marcel
Rosie Ellen Celine Marcel (born 6 May 1977) is an English actress. Marcel is known for her role as Jac Naylor, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon lead in the BBC drama series ''Holby City'', a role she has also played in sister series '' Casual ...
revealed in a December 2019 interview with the ''
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...
'' that Oates used to be a
Samaritan.
Career
Early work
Oates begun her career as a
researcher
Research is " creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness ...
and editorial assistant for writer,
Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer (; born 29 January 1939) is an Australian writer and public intellectual, regarded as one of the major voices of the radical feminist movement in the latter half of the 20th century.
Specializing in English and women's literatu ...
and credited Greer as "inspiring", "inimitable", "kind" and "enthusiastic".
She moved to
Carlton Television
Carlton Television (now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties from 9.25am every Monday to 5.15pm every Friday. The company is now managed with London Weekend Televi ...
as a researcher and
script editor
A script editor is a member of the production team of scripted television and radio programmes, usually dramas and comedies. The script editor has many responsibilities including finding new script writers, developing storyline and series ideas wi ...
for soap opera, ''
Crossroads
Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to:
* Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet
Film and television Films
* ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa
* ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...
'', which she continued until 2003.
''Crossroads'' was cancelled in March 2003, with the final episode airing in May. Oates' work on ''Crossroads'' lead her to begin producing
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...
soap opera, ''
The Archers
''The Archers'' is a BBC radio drama on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural settin ...
'', a place which she credits as the "bulk of her training".
In 2012, Oates praised ''The Archers'' editor of twenty-one years,
Vanessa Whitburn
Vanessa Victoria Whitburn OBE (born 1951) is a British radio producer, and a former editor of ''The Archers''.
Early life
She was born in Totnes in Devon, the daughter of Victor Whitburn and Eileen Wellington. She has a younger brother (born 19 ...
, calling her "inspiring".
Oates produced the soap opera for seven years, choosing to leave in 2010.
''Emmerdale''
Oates began working on the
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
soap opera ''
Emmerdale
''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...
'' in early 2010 as a story editor, under then-producer,
Gavin Blyth
Gavin John Blyth (27 October 1969 – 26 November 2010) was a British television producer and journalist. He was well known for being series producer of ''Emmerdale'' from January 2009 until his death. Beginning his career in 2002, he joined ''Em ...
. Oates edited various storylines for the show, including
Aaron Livesy
Aaron Dingle (previously Sugden-Dingle, also Livesy) is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Danny Miller. The character was originally played by Danny Webb and appeared in a recurring capacity. Aaron made ...
(
Danny Miller) assisting the suicide of his boyfriend,
Jackson Walsh
Jackson Walsh is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale'', played by Marc Silcock. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 March 2010. The character was introduced as a love interest for the established Aaron Li ...
(
Marc Silcock
Marco "Marc" Silcock (born 4 November 1988) is an English former actor, best known for his portrayal of Jackson Walsh in the British soap opera ''Emmerdale''.
Career
Silcock studied acting at City College Manchester and has a Diploma in Perfo ...
),
which won the
British Soap Award
The British Soap Awards (BSAs) are an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom which honours the best moments in British soap operas. The ceremony is televised on ITV and has been presented by Phillip Schofield since 2006. The trophies give ...
for Best Storyline in 2012. Oates held a key role in the soap's fortieth anniversary celebrations and said that she was "proud" to be involved.
Oates left her position at ''Emmerdale'' in 2012, having worked on the show for two and a half years.
Reflecting on Oates' work on the show as story editor, John Whiston, the creative director of ITV soaps, commented, "Kate swept into Emmerdale a couple of years ago with a deadly combination of determination and brio. She soon proved her worth to the show, working on stories that ranged from the extremely tough to the light and funny."
As series producer
On 15 October 2012, Oates was announced to be succeeding Stuart Blackburn as the series producer of ''Emmerdale''.
Having left the soap earlier that year, Oates explained that she did not expect to return to the show as quickly as she did.
She started in the position in January 2013.
Oates reports to Whiston, who believed that she was "in tune with the vibrant spirit of modern ''Emmerdale''".
He also thought that Oates would be able to maintain that over the coming years.
Oates was first credited for the position in episode 6518/6519, first broadcast on 4 April 2013, alongside Blackburn, and was first sole credited in episode 6522, first broadcast on 9 April.
Oates focused on major storylines such as
Brenda Walker
Brenda Walker (born 1957 in Grafton, New South Wales) is an Australian writer. She studied at the University of New England in Armidale and, after gaining a PhD in English (on the work of Samuel Beckett) at the Australian National University ...
's (
Lesley Dunlop
Lesley Jane Dunlop (born 10 March 1956) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Norna in the ''Doctor Who'' serial "Frontios", Anna Kirkwall in ''Where the Heart Is (British TV series), Where the Heart Is'' and Zoë Angell in ''May ...
)
brain tumour,
Cameron Murray's (
Dominic Power
Dominic Power (born 5 May 1973) is an English actor. Power has portrayed Leon Taylor in the ITV police drama ''The Bill'' and Cameron Murray in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. He is currently appearing in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks ...
) killing spree and
Rhona Goskirk
Rhona Goskirk is a fictional character from the British television soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Zoë Henry. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 September 2001. The character was introduced by series producer ...
's (
Zoe Henry
Zoe (also ZOE, Zoë, Zoé, etc.) can refer to:
*ζωή (''zōḗ''), the Ancient Greek word for "life"
People
* Zoe (name), including list of persons and fictional characters with the name
Film and television
* ''Zoe'' (film)
* ZOE Broadcast ...
) painkiller addiction. She felt that it was best to focus on the storytelling and to make ''Emmerdale'' popular.
Cameron's killing spree culminated in a siege set in The Woolpack pub, a central location of the series.
The siege won the Spectacular Scene of the Year award at the
2014 British Soap Awards. During her time at ''Emmerdale'', Oates introduced many well publicised storylines, including
Donna Windsor
Donna Windsor (also Windsor-Dingle) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. She was originally played by Sophie Jeffery until 1997. Actress Verity Rushworth took over the role in 1998. She made her first appearan ...
's (
Verity Rushworth
Verity Charlotte Rushworth (born 15 August 1985) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Donna Windsor in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 1998 to 2009, with a guest appearance in 2014. She has played many theatre r ...
) "heart-wrenching" battle with terminal cancer,
Laurel Thomas
Laurel Thomas (also Potts and Dingle) is a Character (arts), fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Charlotte Bellamy. She debuted on screen during the ep ...
' (
Charlotte Bellamy
Charlotte Bellamy (born 19 March 1973) is an English actress. She is known for her long-running role as Laurel Thomas in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Her other television roles include Sue Taylor in ''EastEnders'' (1997) and Harriet Potter ...
) "dark"
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...
story, Aaron Livesy's "tear-jerking" and "tragic" revelation that he was sexually abused by his father as a child, a week of episodes involving a helicopter crash and the deaths of two regular characters, as well as the popular pairing of
Robert Sugden
Robert Sugden (also Sugden-Dingle) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. The character originally appeared on the show regularly between 22 April 1986 and 3 October 2005. During that time he was first played ...
(
Ryan Hawley
Ryan Alexander Hawley (born 21 September 1985) is an English actor, known for his portrayal of Robert Sugden in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2014 to 2019.
Early life
Hawley, son of Christine and Steve, spent his childhood partly in ...
) and Aaron Livesy, which Duncan Lindsay of the ''
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...
'' opined had "defined" her era.
Oates introduced multiple major characters to the soap. One of her first casting choices included extending the established Barton family to include the brother-in-law and nephews of
Moira Barton
Moira Dingle (also Barton) is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Natalie J. Robb. The actress successfully auditioned for the role after a call came through her agent. Robb's character and her family wer ...
(
Natalie J. Robb). The family was expanded again in 2015 through the introduction of
Emma Barton
Emma Louise Barton (born 26 July 1977) is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Honey Mitchell in ''EastEnders'' which she has portrayed on and off since November 2005. Before her role in ''EastEnders'', Barton appeared ...
(
). Oates also created the White family, a new leading family for Home Farm manor, an "iconic" location in the show.
She reintroduced the character of Robert Sugden with the family, although recast the role to actor Ryan Hawley.
Oates introduced multiple other leading characters to the soap as well. She also reintroduced former characters
Leyla Harding
Leyla Harding (also Cavanagh) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale'', played by Roxy Shahidi. She made her first on-screen appearance on 11 August 2008 and was introduced by series producer, Anita Turner. The c ...
(
Roxy Shahidi
Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi ( fa, رخسانه قوام شهيدي; born 14 March 1983) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Leyla Harding in ITV soap ''Emmerdale''.
Career
Theatre
Shahidi began her career as part ...
), Donna Windsor (Rushworth), Aaron Livesy (Miller) and
Doug Potts
Douglas "Doug" Potts is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale'', played by Duncan Preston. In July 2010, Preston announced that he was taking a break from the show, initially temporarily for several months to allo ...
(
Duncan Preston) for regular stints, as well as
Steph Stokes
Mary Stephanie "Steph" Stokes (also Turner and Forsythe) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale''. She was played by Lorraine Chase for a period of four years between 2002 and 2006. It was announced on 12 Septemb ...
(
Lorraine Chase
Lorraine Chase (born 16 July 1951) is an English actress and former model. She became well known for her strong south east London accent and frequent use of cockney slang, and found fame through a series of television adverts for Campari be ...
),
Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert (born 7 August 1969) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of Ipswich Town.
Lambert played as a midfielder and won the Scottish Cup in 1987 with St Mirren as a 17-year-ol ...
(
Matthew Bose
Mathew Bose (born 3 July 1977) is a British actor. He is best known for his role as Paul Lambert in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2004 to 2010 and again in 2015.
Life and career
Bose was born 3 July 1977 in South East London. He has an ol ...
) and
Nikhil Sharma
Nikhil Sharma is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale'', played by Rik Makarem. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 September 2009. Makarem's departure from the soap was announced ...
(
Rik Makarem
Tarik Makarem (born 18 January 1982), is an English actor most famous for playing Nikhil Sharma in ''Emmerdale''.
Classically trained he is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. He won a Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2004 ...
) for guest stints. She also recast multiple former characters and reintroduced to the series.
On 18 September 2015, it was announced that Oates would leave ''Emmerdale''. She praised the soap and said that she had enjoyed her time as series producer.
John Whiston praised Oates' work on the show, opining that she had made ''Emmerdale'' popular again and given it an "on-going resurgence".
He added, "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."
He felt these elements allowed her to improve ''Emmerdale'' without losing any of the soap's "credibility or humour".
Oates left the show in December 2015,
and was last credited in episode 7503, first broadcast on 16 May 2016.
''Coronation Street''
In 2012, Oates joined ITV soap opera ''
Coronation Street
''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford.
Origi ...
'' as the assistant producer. Kieran Roberts, the executive producer of the soap, said that as the assistant producer, she made a "huge impact".
Whiston said that many people were impressed with her "inspiration and sheer hard work" during her time on the soap, which would help her in the future.
Oates was first credited as assistant producer in episode 7951, first broadcast on 10 September 2012, and last credited in episode 8083, first broadcast on 15 March 2013.
Oates' appointment as the series producer of ''Coronation Street'', succeeding Blackburn, was announced on 18 September 2015. Oates was delighted to join the soap, describing the move as "exiciting" and adding that she felt honoured to do so.
Oates joined the soap in early 2016.
On the move from ''Emmerdale'' to ''Coronation Street'', she commented, "But as much as ''Emmerdale'' has meant the world to me ''Corrie'' also has a special place in my heart."
John Whiston felt that Oates was the perfect person to become the series producer of the soap.
Blackburn described the position as "one of the best jobs in television" and wished Oates luck.
Roberts opined that Oates would make an "ideal" producer for the series and believed that she had "all the qualities to be a big success as producer of ''Coronation Street''".
Mark Jefferies of ''
Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print ...
'' thought that Oates would be the "''Coronation Street'' saviour".
Oates was first credited in the position in episode 8968, first broadcast on 15 August 2016.
Upon her appointment, Oates developed the established Barlow family through the reintroductions of
Peter Barlow (
Chris Gascoyne),
Adam Barlow
Adam Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by actor Sam Robertson. He made his first appearance on-screen on 14 January 2001. Adam was played by Iain De Caestecker from the character's ...
(
Sam Robertson
Samuel Robertson is a Scottish actor and model. He portrays Adam Barlow in the ITV soap opera, ''Coronation Street''; and Flynn in the E4 comedy-drama series, ''Beaver Falls''.
Background
Robertson was born in Dundee, Scotland. He studied ...
) and
Daniel Osbourne (
Rob Mallard
Robert Stephen Mallard (born 19 May 1992) is an English actor from Manchester, England, best known for playing Daniel Osbourne in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''.
Career
On 14 September 2016, it was announced that Mallar ...
).
She also reintroduced
Toyah Battersby
Toyah Habeeb (also Battersby) is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Georgia Taylor. Toyah and her family were introduced to the serial by executive producer Brian Park in a bid to increase falling ...
(
Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor (born Claire Jackson; 26 February 1980) is an English actress. Her TV roles include Toyah Battersby in the ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'' (1997–2003, 2016–present), Ruth Winters in the BBC One medical drama series ' ...
), following a 14-year absence,
Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 24 December 1990. She was played by Emma Collinge from 1990 until 27 December 1999. Helen Fl ...
(
Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan (born 7 August 1990) is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2000 to 2012; she reprised the role in 2017, before going on maternity leave o ...
),
Brian Packham
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' in 2010, by order of first appearance.
Trevor Dean
Enid Crump
Enid Crump, played by June Broughton, arrives on the Street to confront Be ...
(
Peter Gunn
''Peter Gunn'' is an American private eye television series, starring Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as his girlfriend, Edie Hart. The series aired on NBC from September 22, 1958, to 1960 and on ABC in 1960–1961. The seri ...
) and
Carla Connor
Carla Barlow (also Connor and Gordon) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by Alison King. She made her first appearance on screen during the episode airing on 1 December 2006 and introduced ...
(
Alison King
Alison Rosamund King (born 3 March 1973) is an English actress and model. She is known for her roles as Lynda Block in the Sky One drama series ''Dream Team'' (1998–2003, 2005–2007), and Carla Connor in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Cor ...
). Oates also oversaw the soap's move from transmitting five episodes per week to six episodes per week. Following reports of upset within the show's cast and crew over the increase in episodes, Oates denied the claims and said that the production team were working together to ensure that "the show is in a great place for when we go to six a week".
At a show press event, Oates explained that she wanted to introduce a "greater breadth of storylines" and use more of the soap's talented cast.
She added, "In terms of pacing, I do like things to move and develop, but you also need to let the right moments breathe."
Oates introduced major plots, including
Pat Phelan's (
Connor McIntyre
Connor McIntyre (born 30 November 1960) is an English actor, best known for playing Pat Phelan in the ITV soap opera, ''Coronation Street'' from 2013 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2018, but has also had large roles in TV shows such as ''Al ...
) "grisly" reign of terror, which spanned the entirety of Oates' tenure, that saw the departures of
Andy Carver
''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters that appeared in 2014, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by series producer Stuart Blackburn. Shar ...
(
Oliver Farnworth
Oliver Farnworth (born 5 August 1982) is an English actor. Farnworth was brought up just outside Halifax in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, but moved to Sidmouth in Devon when he was fifteen. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. ) and
Luke Britton
'' Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters that appeared in 2014, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by series producer Stuart Blackburn. Sha ...
(Dean Fagan).
Michelle Connor
Michelle Connor (also McDonald) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', portrayed by former Hear'Say singer, Kym Marsh. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006. ...
(
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Ratcliff (''née'' Marsh, previously Ryder and Lomas; born 13 June 1976) is an English actress, television presenter and singer. In 2001, she won a place in the band Hear'Say as a result of appearing on the reality television ser ...
) and
Steve McDonald's (
Simon Gregson
Simon Alan Gregory (born 2 October 1974), better known by his stage name, Simon Gregson, is an English actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Steve McDonald in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since 1989. He has rece ...
) "devastating" late miscarriage,
Ken Barlow
Ken Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation Street''s original characters and December 2020 marked Ken's 60th anni ...
's (
William Roache
William Patrick Roache (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since it was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. He is listed in the ''Guinness World Records ...
)
stroke
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
and attempted murder,
Bethany Platt
Bethany Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson in 2000 and by twins Amy and Emily Walton from 2000 ...
's (
Lucy Fallon
Lucy Fallon (born 13 November 1995) is an English actress. She played Bethany Platt in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2015–2020). The role has earned her widespread recognition and several accolades, including two British Soap Awa ...
) "brave and dark"
sexual exploitation
Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership right over one or more people with the intent of coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in sexual activities. This includes forced labor, reducing a person to a s ...
story,
David Platt
David Andrew Platt (born 10 June 1966) is an English former professional football coach and player, who played as a midfielder.
Born in Chadderton, Lancashire, Platt began his career as an apprentice at Manchester United before moving to Crewe ...
's (
Jack P. Shepherd) "controversial"
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ag ...
at the hands of
Josh Tucker
''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by series producer Kate Oates or her successor ...
(Ryan Clayton), and
Aidan Connor
'' Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera first broadcast on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters that appeared in 2015, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by series producer Stuart Blackburn. Beth ...
's (
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward (born 16 October 1984) is an English actor and singer. He rose to fame as the winner of The X Factor (British series 2), the second series of ''The X Factor (British TV series), The X Factor''. His debut single, "That's M ...
) "haunting"
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
. Oates has been praised for creating higher ratings for the show. Daniel Kilkelly and Rianne Houghton of ''
Digital Spy
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
'' dubbed Oates' tenure as "divisive".
On 24 April 2018, it was announced that Oates had resigned from her position as series producer of ''Coronation Street'' after two years.
Oates called her time on the show "one of the best experiences of my life".
She said that she was proud of her storylines and the impact they made. She added, "I've had a ball working with one of the best and most talented teams in television. I'll be forever grateful for this opportunity and all it has given me".
Whiston praised Oates' work and said that she "transformed" the soap opera, creating much positive publicity.
He commended her "groundbreaking and socially important stories", including Pat Phelan's villainous spree and the light-hearted humour between characters.
On the storylines, he said, "It is a testament to her brilliant editorial touch that these stories, though difficult, have been both credible and engaging."
He added that the movement from five to six episodes was "a phenomenal achievement" for Oates and said that the increase in ratings was "a herculean achievement in this box set era."
Iain MacLeod, the producer of ''Emmerdale'', was announced as Oates' successor. He described Oates as "an extraordinarily talented woman – very intelligent, very capable and a very good storyteller".
MacLeod confirmed that Oates had prepared storylines for ''Coronation Street'' until November 2018, so she would be credited until early December.
Oates' final episode of the soap is episode 9635, first broadcast on 10 December 2018.
Tall Story Pictures
After leaving ''Coronation Street'', Oates was announced to be joining Tall Story Pictures, a company owned by
ITV Studios
ITV Studios is a British multinational television production and distribution company owned by the British television broadcaster ITV plc. It handles production and distribution of programmes broadcast on the ITV network and third-party broadcas ...
. It was confirmed that Oates would produce the second series of ITV drama ''
Bancroft''.
Oates looked forward to starting her new position and working on the production of ''Bancroft''.
BBC
In August 2018, it was announced that Oates would become the senior executive producer of ''EastEnders'' as well as BBC medical dramas ''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'' and ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
''.
Initially, Oates primarily worked with the team at ''EastEnders'' alongside the show's executive consultant,
John Yorke from October to December 2018 to provide a "smooth handover".
From then on, Oates was to gain sole responsibility for the show.
Oates relished in the chance to be involved in the production of the three shows. She commented, "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."
Mark Linsey, the CCO of
BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Worldwide. ...
, called Oates a "dynamic, passionate and creative storyteller" and looked forward to her joining the studios.
Charlotte Moore was pleased with Oates' appointment and said in a press release, "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
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...
soap fans."
Piers Wenger
Piers Wenger is a British television executive who serves as controller of BBC drama commissioning.
Early life
Wenger was born Piers John Wenger in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England on 29 June 1972.
Career
Wenger was appointed as contro ...
, the controller of BBC Drama, opined that Oates had an "unrivalled" ability to make soaps and continuing dramas popular and "talked about".
He predicted that she would be "brilliant" in her new position.
In September 2018, Oates spoke to Duncan Lindsay of the ''
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...
'' about her plans for ''EastEnders''. She explained that she wants to make the soap "the very best it can be", although pointed out that this would be challenging.
Oates told the reporter that she already had ideas about the show and knew which characters she could utilise well, but wanted to speak to the cast and crew and find out their ideas before implementing anything new.
She added that she had recently been researching the history of ''EastEnders'' in preparation for joining the soap.
Oates confirmed that she did not want to write out multiple characters as she believed that it would not benefit the spirit of the show.
One of Oates' first responsibilities was to hire an executive producer for ''EastEnders''.
Jon Sen
Jon Sen (born 9 October 1974) is a British television and film director, writer and producer. After working as the executive producer of the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2018 to 2022, Sen began working as the executive producer of the BBC ...
was later chosen for the position. Oates' first credited episode as senior executive producer on ''EastEnders'' is episode 5872, originally broadcast on 21 February 2019.
In April 2019, it was announced that Oates had been promoted to Head of Continuing Drama at
BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Worldwide. ...
, succeeding Oliver Kent. Under the position, she is responsible for the leadership of six BBC soaps and dramas: ''EastEnders'', ''Casualty'', ''Holby City'', ''
Doctors
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
'', ''
River City
''River City'' is a Scottish television soap opera that was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland on 24 September 2002. ''River City'' follows the lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch. In November 2017, a s ...
'' and ''
Pobol y Cwm
''Pobol y Cwm'' (''People of the Valley''; ) is a Welsh-language soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, ''Pobol y Cwm'' was originally transmitted on BBC One Wales and l ...
''.
Oates continues to be based at the filming studios of ''EastEnders'',
BBC Elstree Centre
The BBC Elstree Centre, sometimes referred to as the BBC Elstree Studios, is a television production facility, currently owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The complex is located between Eldon Avenue and Clarendon Road in Boreh ...
, and works closely with their production team.
Oates expressed her excitement at being promoted and working with three new soap operas. She stated that she found it demanding to keep viewers "consistently engaged with brilliant stories that feel fresh and exciting".
She added that she was enjoying work with the production teams of ''EastEnders'', ''Casualty'' and ''Holby City'' already.
Ralph Lee, the director of content at BBC Studios, praised Oates, branding her "an exceptional talent".
He observed, "Kate's passion and creativity is already making a real difference and she can now apply her exciting vision to the full portfolio of our continuing dramas."
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oates, Kate
Soap opera producers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
People from Nottingham
Alumni of the University of Warwick