Kate Oates (born 1979/1980) is a British television producer, who was born in Nottingham and graduated from Warwick University. She began her career working as a researcher and editorial assistant for Germaine Greer, before becoming a script editor for the soap opera Crossroads. In 2003, she joined the radio soap The Archers 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 as a script editor, during which time she assisted with the soap's fortieth anniversary celebrations and worked on British Soap Award-winning storylines. She remained in the position until 2012 when she joined Coronation Street 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 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 as the senior executive producer of EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City 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 as executive producer. She was later promoted to Head of Continuing Drama at BBC Studios in 2019, overseeing six BBC soap operas and dramas, remaining in creative control of EastEnders.
Early life Oates was born in Nottingham, England. She attended Ockbrook School and Warwick University, 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.
Career
Early work Oates begun her career as a researcher and editorial assistant for writer, Germaine Greer and credited Greer as "inspiring", "inimitable", "kind" and "enthusiastic". She moved to Carlton Television as a researcher and script editor 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 soap opera, The Archers, 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 in early 2010 as a story editor, under then-producer, Gavin Blyth. Oates edited various storylines for the show, including Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) assisting the suicide of his boyfriend, Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock), which won the British Soap Award 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, 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) "dark" alcoholism 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). 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,Sources: as well as Steph Stokes (Lorraine Chase), Paul Lambert (Matthew Bose) and Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem) for guest stints.Sources: 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 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 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), Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) and Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard). She also reintroduced Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), following a 14-year absence, Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan), Brian Packham (Peter Gunn) and Carla Connor (Alison King).Sources: 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) "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 (Kym Marsh) and Steve McDonald's (Simon Gregson) "devastating" late miscarriage, Ken Barlow's (William Roache) stroke and attempted murder, Bethany Platt's (Lucy Fallon) "brave and dark" sexual exploitation story, David Platt's (Jack P. Shepherd) "controversial" rape at the hands of Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton), and Aidan Connor's (Shayne Ward) "haunting" suicide. Oates has been praised for creating higher ratings for the show. Daniel Kilkelly and Rianne Houghton of Digital Spy 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."