BBC Studios grows Oates’ role

BBC Studios (BBCS) has appointed one of its senior executive producers to head of continuing drama.

Kate Oates

Kate Oates takes the role having overseen primetime dramas including EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty. Her new post adds new shows such as Doctors, River City and Pobol y Cwm to her remit.

Before joining BBCS in 2018, Oates produced Coronation Street for UK commercial broadcaster ITV and before that worked on the channel’s soap Emmerdale.

Ralph Lee, director of content at BBCS, said Oates’ “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.”

Oates added: “Continuing drama is a cornerstone of British television, and the biggest challenge is keeping audiences consistently engaged with brilliant stories that feel fresh and exciting.”

BBCS appointed former Channel 4 deputy chief creative officer Lee as its director of content last year.