BBCS harvests Oates for soaps

Holby City began airing in 1999

BBC Studios (BBCS) has appointed a producer of ITV detective drama Bancroft as its senior executive producer for soaps including Eastenders and Casualty.

Kate Oates, who has previously worked on ITV’s hit soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, will also work on hospital drama Holby City.

Mark Linsey, chief creative officer at BBCS, described Oates as “a dynamic, passionate and creative storyteller.” She will take over from John Yorke, who had been overseeing the shows on an interim basis and whose next role will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Oates said working on the BBCS titles represented “an amazing opportunity for me to have creative input into three of the UK’s leading dramas.”

She will report to Oliver Kent, head of continuing drama series, and takes up her role in October.