New EastEnders boss promises there won’t be a character bloodbath when she takes over

EastEnders latest: Kat and Alfie Moon REUNITED – but for how long as Alfie makes FIERY return?
(Image credit: BBC / Kieron McCarron)

Alfie returning to the Square will be one of the big storylines new boss Kate Oates will be overseeing as she takes charge of the soap

New EastEnders boss Kate Oates has promised she won’t be axing a mass of characters when she takes over the job at the end of the month.

Kate, who was in charge of Coronation Street until earlier this year, has assured fans there won't be a bloodbath.

She revealed that she didn’t believe chopping a load of characters at once from a soap works.

Talking to Metro, she said: ‘It’s always been the case that cast members come and go from serial dramas but I’m not a big fan of axing sprees, because I think you have to have faith in the talent you inherit and need to work out the best way to use it.

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Kate Oates in her old Corrie job

“I’ve watched the shows before when there’s been a mass-clear out, and sometimes you run the risk of changing the landscape so much, the show feels odd and quite different for quite a while.

Kate, who’s also worked on Radio 4 soap The Archers and Emmerdale, went on to say that have an axing spree would also be bad for the morale of the cast of EastEnders.

“It’s not great for morale, which is important to me. I’d rather do my best with the existing casts that I’ll be working alongside, and hope that enables them to do their best with stories that feel true to their characters.”

Kate also revealed that she’d be brushing up on her EastEnders history before taking over and that she had her eye on certain characters, who she could see being the centre “of some very exciting storylines”.

In her new job Kate will also be overseeing Holby City and Casualty. On getting her new job, she said: “Working across EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City is an amazing opportunity for me to have creative input into three of the UK’s leading dramas.

"I’m excited about meeting the teams and talent behind each show and can’t wait to get stuck in and tell some unmissable stories.”

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!