I travelled to Coronation Street Studios in Manchester to hear all about Kate's vision for the show under her stewardship, and to find out about her plans for characters and storylines going into 2025.
Those not wishing to read any spoilers should look away now.
Fan trepidation is a given at the idea of someone new at the helm. But, I think it's fair to say, it can be a welcome prospect too if the show hasn't exactly been moving in a direction wholly favoured by some viewers.
Enter that seemingly evergreen feeling of hope that this new broom will honour the one used by Norris Cole as an excuse for nosy sweeping, and usher in those long-lamented things which are quintessentially Corrie. I speak, of course, of the many enjoyable facets that make the show what it is; elements which are not just nice to have, but crucial to the show, and antidotes to the programme's perplexing and fatiguing penchant for crime, violence and serious storylines.
The Christmas part of our interview had me feeling hopeful, with talk of old school / Classic Corrie; of escapism and nostalgia; of fun, liveliness, and family. When Kate went on to talk about clusters of characters, I was similarly heartened at the possibility that strong characterisation, and character-led drama, might be a hallmark of her tenure.
While 'watch this space' is all we can really do for now as her tenure and episodes unfold, this is what Kate had to say about Corrie, her vision for it, and what lies ahead as we look towards 2025.
Filled with enthusiasm and wearing a jumper in homage to Corrie's favourite brewers' Newton & Ridley, Kate began by telling us, "I've made no attempt to disguise the fact that I love Coronation Street. I love the show. I'm a fan, I think it's wonderful, I think it's brilliant and I just really want to make sure that the audience are entertained."
What fan wouldn't be happy to hear that from any producer!
Kate continued, "It's important that we tell gritty stories, we tell issue-led stories, and we've got them coming up in abundance. But, ultimately, it's about packaging them in the right way and keeping them fresh and different without losing the DNA of Corrie."
"For me, what makes Corrie so wonderful is the familiarity of it; it's the wit, it's the characters, and so all these stories will be packaged with that in mind. That will be at the heart of each and every one."
"I love telling stories in non-linear ways. I love big, bold, stunt storytelling. I think taking a story and telling it in a completely different way that changes people's perspectives is really good, it's really good for the show, and I want to do more of that. As long as we root these stories in reality, the audience will come with us."
I would be lying if I said I didn't wince a little at the mention of abundant gritty and issue-led stories with non-linear, bold, stunt-infused production. For me, these are the things that make it feel like I'm not watching Corrie; that don't belong in the show, and are the reasons why it has come to feel so unlike the programme many of us have long loved. And yet, the awareness of the need to retain and honour Corrie DNA; the mention of familiarity, wit, and characterisation; and the importance of reality, had the opposite effect on me as I thought, 'Yes! Honouring these things is absolutely needed!'
Yes, villains like Richard Hillman and Maya Sharma had their 'reigns of terror.' But we could always be sure of a consistent bedrock of enjoyable, grounded storylines and organic humour that reflected the heart of Coronation Street running alongside them.
There was also a camp element to the villains of the past that made them infinitely watchable and feel like they belonged on the show, without detracting from or lessening their terrible crimes. This has all but disappeared from Corrie, despite having always worked so well on the Street.
Nor was the presence of characters and deeds such as theirs ever considered a universal norm, as it has come to be now. This not only changes the whole feel of the show, it makes viewers exhausted rather than entertained, resulting in fatigue and a loss of impact.
Even when it came, in later years, to one of Corrie's greatest villains, Pat Phelan, fans were swept into his crime-ridden, dark and dramatic world while still being able to recognise and enjoy the programme they loved. Granted, some were divided as to whether or not what we were seeing belonged on Corrie, particularly when it came to the death of Andy Carver. But, as far as I can tell, no story, and no villain since, has managed to capture viewers in the same way; certainly not this one anyway.
I think the brilliance of Pat's era was in the performances, the writing, the complexity and the setting of it in a grounded, reliable Street with strong characterisation and stories which provided light and shade. And crucially, it was the featured 'dark' story, not one of several.
There's a reason why such villains have traditionally stood out; they didn't have competition.
When it comes to a method of honouring and celebrating the uniqueness of the show, while creating room for these types of stories and characters, the correct balance between light and shade, humour and darkness, will be absolutely essential if it is to bring viewers along in 2025 and beyond.
In terms of what we can expect as we enter the New Year, Kate says, "There's loads of really exciting stuff. There's loads of shocks coming up. Just when you think a story is going in one direction, we absolutely do a complete 360, and it goes in a completely different direction."
"I think bold, innovative storytelling is key; exciting, thrilling, compelling drama that really keeps the audience captivated. But at the heart of it, there needs to be a truth, and that's what I always seek to find, is that truth in those stories. So, I am genuinely, not just as a producer, but as a fan, I'm dead excited about what's coming up because all the stories are just on fire."
"It feels like we've got all the big clans in place. We've got the Platts, who are gonna feature really heavily. We've got the Websters; again, big clan, building that clan, seeing those dynamics. The Connors with Lisa and Carla and Betsy and Ryan; building that, building the factory. We've got lots coming up which I think is going to be really exciting."
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I have two hopes here; one, is that the relationships feel genuinely rooted in the reality of day-to-day life; the other is that focusing on clans doesn't compartmentalise the show too much, as interaction between characters from different groups is what makes it feel like a real community. Again, time will tell how all of this will play out.
Summing up her overall vision for the show, Kate said, "Basically, my vision is making sure that we keep people engaged, and keep people entertained and keep people guessing, because we don't want people to become complacent. We want to pull the rug from underneath them sometimes, just as the audience are sat at home with a cup of tea, settling down for Corrie, with their digestives - or I'd go for custard creams, but everyone's got their own preference - and something happens that they did not expect. So, definitely expect the unexpected in 2025."
In terms of departures, we're told, "There are a few exits this year, and a few unexpected ones. They're going to send shockwaves. I think people might not expect the exits that will be occurring."
We're promised some new and returning arrivals too, and as Kate spoke at length about some of these, and specific character groupings as well as a big issue-led storyline which will feature strongly in the first quarter of the New Year, I've packaged them all up into seperate blogs for you to read here:
Will it be possible to experience and become immersed in the unique style and feel of the show we know and love without being pulled out of it by aspects which run counter to quintessential Corrie?
Will this result in a refreshed show where the different facets can successfully sit alongside one another, and be made to work?
Kate's passion and love for the programme has to bring some reassurance. A fan of the show would always want to see it at its best, and honour its uniqueness; the very things that make it known for being Coronation Street, and not anything else.
By Emma Hynes
Read all about my trip to Coronation Street in A Rover Returns.
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