Coronation Street gets a new producer

As is usually the way, every few years, there's a change at the top. ITV today has announced that Stuart Blackburn who has been the producer for Coronation Street, is moving on and there will be a new person sitting at the helm in the new year. She is Kate Oates and she has most recently been the producer over at Emmerdale.

Blackburn has been responsible for quite a few controversial storylines during his three year tenure including the murder of Tina McIntyre, the death of Hayley Cropper, a fire that killed Kal Nazir and Maddie Heath and the current drug dealer storyline involving the custody of Max, Kylie Platt's son. He has also overseen not one but two live episodes, including the one to air on September 23. Coronation Street has also won two BAFTA awards during his tenure.

“I’ve loved every minute of producing Coronation Street,” said Stuart. “What a rollercoaster ride the last three years has been. We’ve met every challenge along the way and I can’t praise the cast, crew and writers highly enough for rising to the occasion with each storyline."

He continued: “For the next few months my focus will remain entirely on all things Corrie, as we have massive stories coming up taking us in to the Spring and Summer of 2016. I wish my friend Kate well in her role as she takes on one of the best jobs in television.”

Kate Oates was producer of The Archers for 7 years and has been with Emmerdale since 2013 where she has also been a story editor in the past and she's also been an Assistant Producer for Corrie in the past as well.

“I’m delighted to accept the role as Coronation Street’s new Producer,” said Kate. “It’s really exciting to be moving from one amazing soap to another and I feel very blessed.” 




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Classic Corrie Christmas Moments Countdown - Day 13

As the ITV Coronation Street website have forgotten there were Corrie Christmases before 2004, I thought I'd step into the breach and post some classic Corrie Christmases from YouTube.

Today, we're going back 51 years to Christmas Day 1963. The street is abuzz wondering who is the recipient of This is Your Life...

Enjoy!

For a synopsis and information about this episode (Episode 317) on Corriepedia, click here.

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The faces of Corrie in 1963

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

 

 

 In 1963, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Valerie Barlow (91 episodes)
2.    Harry Hewitt (91 episodes)
3.    Ena Sharples (90 episodes)
4.    Annie Walker (90 episodes)
5.    Martha Longhurst (89 episodes)
6.    Concepta Hewitt (89 episodes)
7.    Elsie Tanner (89 episodes)
8.    Minnie Caldwell (88 episodes)
9.    Len Fairclough (88 episodes)
10.    Albert Tatlock (87 episodes)
11.    Jack Walker (87 episodes)
12.    Florrie Lindley (85 episodes)

Average age: 50

Note: This is the last time Martha, Harry, Florrie and Concepta (to date) appear in the top 12.

 

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