Corries new producer

[CG Wendy]

Does anyone know who it will be?
From the Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/14/itv.television

Soap shakeup at ITV
Ben Dowell Guardian
ITV is bracing itself for a shakeup two of its most lucrative programmes after Coronation Street producer Steve Frost and Emmerdale series producer Kath Beedles both decided to leave their respective soaps.

Beedles is to leave her job at the end of the year while Frost will depart early next year, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal. Both have been in their roles for two years.

ITV confirmed the duo's departures and said that they will be staying within ITV in new but unspecified roles.

"Producers normally work on successful dramas like Coronation Street and Emmerdale for two to three years so their departures are perfectly in keeping with the way soaps work," said a spokeswoman.

Frost has been in his current job for two years and oversaw storylines including the imprisonment of Tracy Barlow who battered boyfriend Charlie Stubbs to death and the chaotic Fred-Bev-Audrey love triangle.

In June 2006, Frost suspended actor Craig Charles after pictures emerged in the press of the former Red Dwarf star smoking crack cocaine in the back of a taxi cab.

It is thought that Frost will leave after overseeing the exit from the soap of Vera Duckworth, played by Liz Dawn, who is expected to be killed off in January after 34 years on the soap.

Beedles began her career on Emmerdale as the soap's story editor before she took over the producer's chair vacated by Frost when he moved to Coronation Street.

News of her departure follows last month's 35th anniversary episode that featured a dramatic hour-long episode that involved the Sudgen family trapped in a house fire.

Beedles also hired former Page 3 model Linda Lusardi as Carrie Nicholls and supervised the storyline involving the death of patriarch Tom King.

ITV would not confirm whether Beedles was moving on within ITV to develop the drama idea she currently has in development with the network.

Does anyone know yet who it will be??? Usually when a new producer comes along there`s usually a massive axe swung among the cast.
Please let it be Kelly, Janice, Sean, Marcus and the Peacocks

[RitaLittlewood]

Didn't Steve Frost do nothing for a while before being announced as Corrie boss? Well not strictly boss with Kieran breathing down his neck.

Good riddance Kath Beedles. Maybe now Emmerdale will get back to the standard it was when Steve left. Though with so many eps I doubt it.

Patsy

[Nick]

I quite like Kelly

[CG Wendy]

I wouldn`t mind if there was an Emmerdale cull....way too many in my opinion.
When the new 2 producers are chosen, I really hope that they were fans of the soaps and they a lot about the history and characters of the soap. There`s nothing worse in getting a new producer when they know sod all about that particular soap and they take the job for more money and fame.

[RitaLittlewood]

Oh gawd no. Do we want a DL-type in charge??? Fans of Dr Who are running that and it's crap. Russell T Davies is really doing it for himself, not the fans. Any soap fan would be the same.

Patsy

[sallywebster]

I dont mind Kelly and Janice and I like Claire. Cant get rid of the rest on you axed list though especially Marcus!

[RitaLittlewood]

Reet?

Patsy

[sallywebster]

No the ones on Corriegirls list - Reet can stay!

[RitaLittlewood]

No she's got to go to put an end to these terminable storylines.

Patsy

[Deleted]

Just Janice, Sean and Marcus for me....and Liz....and Vernon....and Paul....(still thinking)

[RitaLittlewood]

From Media Guardian:

ITV names soap supremos

Ben Dowell
Guardian Unlimited Thursday November 15 2007

ITV today appointed Kim Crowther to the top job on Coronation Street, while Anita Turner will take the helm at Emmerdale, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

Crowther, who began working on Coronation Street more than six years ago and left in 2004 to develop other projects for ITV, will take the top post of producer in the new year to allow a handover period with the current producer, Steve Frost.

Frost will bow out at the end of March after two-and-a-half years. Kieran Roberts, the controller of drama for ITV in Manchester, will continue his role as executive producer.

Meanwhile at Emmerdale, Anita Turner, a former script editor on the series who has been working at independent Lime Pictures for the past two years, will take over from series producer Kath Beedles in January and be based in Leeds.

Both Frost and Beedles will remain with ITV Productions taking on what the network calls "important new roles in the drama department".

One of Beedles' first projects will be an Emmerdale related spin-off, which she hopes to produce during 2008.

The controller of drama for ITV in Leeds, Keith Richardson, continues his role as Emmerdale's executive producer.

Crowther, who joined Coronation Street as script editor in 2001 and quickly progressed to the role of series editor, said: "From my time as series editor while Richard Hillman gripped the nation, through to the current meltdown of David Platt, Corrie has proved it does things differently, having the ability to move, amuse and excite its audience all at the same time.

"I'm looking forward to building on the show's recent successes while creating must-see storylines for 2008 and beyond."

Turner has worked in television for 20 years, during which she has worked as script editor on Emmerdale and Coronation Street. She has also script edited Holby City.

Most recently, Turner was the development editor and script editor on a new drama, Apparitions, produced by Liverpool-based indie Lime Pictures.

"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," she said.

The 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.

"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.

"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."

[sallywebster]

Never heard of her but lets hope she does a good job.

[RitaLittlewood]

Maybe she'll put an end to the terminable drivel that passes for storylines among other characters and give them all something proper to do.

Patsy