Kate Oates
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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 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 networks, but upon acce ...
, 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 south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
and graduated from
Warwick University The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded in 1965 as part of a ...
. 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 to ...
and editorial assistant for
Germaine Greer Germaine Greer (; born 29 January 1939) is an Australian writer and feminist, regarded as one of the major voices of the second-wave feminism movement in the latter half of the 20th century. Specializing in English and women's literature, she ...
, before becoming a script editor for the soap opera '' Crossroads''. In 2003, she joined the radio soap ''
The Archers ''The Archers'' is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word Radio broadcasting, channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now pr ...
'' 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 television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'' 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 (TV network), ITV. The trophies given to the winners are made from metal a ...
-winning storylines. She remained in the position until 2012 when she joined ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
'' 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, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom. Ofcom has wide-rang ...
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 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
as the senior
executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the production of media. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). In film ...
of ''
EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television 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 East End of London, the ...
'', ''
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 (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...
'' 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'' its executive producer. She was later promoted to Head of Continuing Drama at
BBC Studios BBC Studios Limited 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 Wor ...
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 south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. She attended Ockbrook School and
Warwick University The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded in 1965 as part of a ...
, where she graduated with an English and Theatre degree. Actress Rosie Marcel revealed in a December 2019 interview with the '' Metro'' that Oates used to be a
Samaritan Samaritans (; ; ; ), are an ethnoreligious group originating from the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East. They are indigenous to Samaria, a historical region of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah that ...
.


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 to ...
and editorial assistant for writer,
Germaine Greer Germaine Greer (; born 29 January 1939) is an Australian writer and feminist, regarded as one of the major voices of the second-wave feminism movement in the latter half of the 20th century. Specializing in English and women's literature, she ...
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 Tele ...
as a researcher and
script editor A script editor is a member of the production team of scripted television and radio programs, usually dramas and comedies. The script editor has many responsibilities including finding new script writers, developing storyline and series ideas wit ...
for soap opera, '' Crossroads'', 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. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
soap opera, ''
The Archers ''The Archers'' is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word Radio broadcasting, channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now pr ...
'', a place which she credits as the "bulk of her training". In 2012, Oates praised ''The Archers'' editor of twenty-one years, Vanessa Whitburn, calling her "inspiring". Oates produced the soap opera for seven years, choosing to leave in 2010.


''Emmerdale''

Oates began working on the ITV soap opera ''
Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'' 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 ( 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 ...
( Marc Silcock), 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 (TV network), ITV. The trophies given to the winners are made from metal a ...
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's ( Lesley Dunlop)
brain tumour A brain tumor (sometimes referred to as brain cancer) occurs when a group of cells within the brain turn cancerous and grow out of control, creating a mass. There are two main types of tumors: malignant (cancerous) tumors and benign (non-cancero ...
, Cameron Murray's ( Dominic Power) killing spree and Rhona Goskirk's ( Zoe Henry) 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's ( Verity Rushworth) "heart-wrenching" battle with terminal cancer, Laurel Thomas' (
Charlotte Bellamy Charlotte Bellamy (born 19 March 1973) is an English actress. She is known for her long-running role as Laurel Thomas in ''Emmerdale'' on ITV (TV network), ITV. Other television roles included Sue Taylor in ''EastEnders'' (1997), and Harriet Pot ...
) "dark"
alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
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 ( Ryan Hawley) and Aaron Livesy, which Duncan Lindsay of the '' Metro'' 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 ( Natalie J. Robb). The family was expanded again in 2015 through the introduction of Emma Barton (
Gillian Kearney Gillian Louise Kearney
). 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 ( Roxy Shahidi), Donna Windsor (Rushworth), Aaron Livesy (Miller) and Douglas Potts ( Duncan Preston) for regular stints, as well as Steph Stokes ( Lorraine Chase), Paul Lambert ( Matthew Bose) 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) 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'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
'' 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 journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...
'' 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 Chris Gascoyne (born 31 January 1968) is an English film, theatre and television actor. He is best known for his role as Peter Barlow in the soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Making his first appearance in December 2000 during a live, 50 minut ...
), Adam Barlow ( Sam Robertson) and Daniel Osbourne ( Rob Mallard). She also reintroduced Toyah Battersby ( Georgia Taylor), following a 14-year absence,
Rosie Webster Rosie Webster is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. The character has been played by two actresses: Emma Collinge from 1990 to 1999, and Helen Flanagan from 2000 to 2012, and from 2017 to 2018. Rosie is the e ...
(
Helen Flanagan Helen Joyce Flanagan (born 7 August 1990) is an English actress, model, and television personality. She is best known for playing the role of Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2000 to 2012; she returned to the rol ...
),
Brian Packham The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV (TV network), 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 Stre ...
(
Peter Gunn ''Peter Gunn'' is an American detective fiction, private eye television series, starring Craig Stevens (actor), Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as his girlfriend, lounge singer Edie Hart. The series was broadcast by NBC from Sept ...
) and Carla Connor ( Alison King). 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 '' ...
) "grisly" reign of terror, which spanned the entirety of Oates' tenure, that saw the departures of Andy Carver ( Oliver Farnworth) and Luke Britton (Dean Fagan).
Michelle Connor Michelle Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by former Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006. Marsh took maternity l ...
(
Kym Marsh Kimberley Gail Marsh (previously Ryder, Lomas and Ratcliff; 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 series ''Pop ...
) and Steve McDonald's (
Simon Gregson Simon Alan Gregory (born 2 October 1974), better known by his stage name, Simon Gregson, is a British actor from Manchester, England. He is best known for his portrayal of Steve McDonald (Coronation Street character), Steve McDonald in the long- ...
) "devastating" late miscarriage, Ken Barlow's ( William Roache)
stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
and attempted murder,
Bethany Platt Bethany Platt is a fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson i ...
's (
Lucy Fallon Lucy Fallon (born 13 November 1995) is an English actress. She gained widespread recognition as Bethany Platt in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2015–2020, 2023–present). The role has earned her several accolades, including two ...
) "brave and dark"
sexual exploitation Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership rights, right over one or more people with the intent of Coercion, coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activities. This includ ...
story, David Platt's ( Jack P. Shepherd) "controversial"
rape Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...
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. Be ...
's (
Shayne Ward Shayne Thomas Ward (born 16 October 1984) is an English singer and actor. He rose to fame as the winner of the second series of ''The X Factor''. His debut single, "That's My Goal", was released in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2005 a ...
) "haunting"
suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...
. 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 initial launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television pro ...
'' 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 Limited is a British multinational television media company owned by British television broadcaster ITV plc. It handles production and distribution of programmes broadcast on the ITV network and third-party broadcasters, and is ba ...
. 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 (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...
''. 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 Limited 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 Wor ...
, 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 channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...
soap fans." Piers Wenger, 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'' 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 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 Limited 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 Wor ...
, succeeding Oliver Kent. Under the position, she is responsible for the leadership of six BBC soaps and dramas: ''EastEnders'', ''Casualty'', ''Holby City'', ''
Doctors Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to: Titles and occupations * Physician, a medical practitioner * Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree ** Doctorate ** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...
'', ''
River City ''River City'' is a Scottish television soap opera created by Stephen Greenhorn which has been broadcast on BBC One Scotland since September 2002. Since 2019, the show has aired episodes a day earlier on the new BBC Scotland channel. Set in ...
'' 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 Cymru (now B ...
''. Oates continues to be based at the filming studios of ''EastEnders'', BBC Elstree Centre, 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 British soap opera producers Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Mass media people from Nottingham Alumni of the University of Warwick