Coronation Street’s new boss revealed as award-winning Emmerdale producer takes over to put soap back on top
CORONATION Street has revealed its new big boss as Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks takes over the ITV soap.
Kate has worked on Emmerdale as a producer since 2018 but she previously worked on Corrie and its most memorable storylines including Hayley’s death, who killed Tina, the arrival of serial killer Pat Phelan.
She said: “I’ve had a wonderful time working on Emmerdale and I feel immensely proud to be part of a team that has achieved such great success over the past eight years.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time on the show, and I’ve had the privilege of working with such a hugely talented and hard-working bunch of people, who also happen to be the loveliest, too.
“Both professionally and personally, Emmerdale has given me so much more than I ever could have imagined, and for that I shall be eternally grateful.
“Thanks Emmerdale, it’s been an absolute pleasure.”
She added: “Corrie has lit up my living room since I was a kid, so to be asked to produce a show I’ve revered for such a long time is the ultimate ‘pinch me’ moment.
“I’ve adored the show from across the Pennines and have consistently been in awe of the talent on display, both on and off the screen.
“It truly is a special show and I endeavour to take great care to ensure that it continues to thrive as we head into the next chapter. Coronation Street has, and always will be, part of my DNA, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
During her time at Emmerdale Kate was responsible for hugely successful storylines such as serial killer Meena Jutla’s reign of terror, the return of Mandy Dingle in 2019 after a 17-year absence, Maya’s grooming and abuse of Jacob and Lydia Dingle’s harrowing rape ordeal.
Most recently Kate has produced the devastating and heart-breaking story of Chas Dingle’s breast cancer diagnosis, elected mastectomy and drawing attention to carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation and how this can also affect men who consequently develop the disease.
Her appointment to Corrie comes as the ITV soap has struggled in recent months.
While still the most-watched soap in the country, ratings have slipped to less than five million and the Christmas Day edition fell out of the top ten for the first time in decades.
Kate, who is married to Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick and they share two children, will begin her new role next month.
She will report to the newly appointed Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, Iain MacLeod, John Whiston, Managing Director for Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North, and ITV Drama Commissioner, Huw Kennair-Jones.
Iain said: “Kate is a fantastic storyteller and I know under her guidance the show will be ambitious, exciting and full of heart and humour.
“She is Corrie to the core and such a good fit for the show. I am genuinely excited to see what the next chapter holds and can’t wait to work with her again.”
John Whiston added: “It’s great news that Kate has agreed to take on the most exciting job in drama, running Coronation Street.
“She brings a deep understanding of the genre, a love of complex character and a penchant for the really big, all absorbing stories.
“She’ll do brilliantly at Corrie and I can’t wait to see the next evolution of the show under her assured command.”
In her time at the show Emmerdale has won an array of prestigious industry awards for performances, storytelling and production including for BAFTA’s Best Soap and Continuing Drama in 2020, Best British soap at the soap Awards in 2019, Best Soap at the TV Choice Awards in 2022, and the Serial Drama Award at the National Television Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.