New Emmerdale producer revealed

ITV today announced it had appointed Gavin Blyth as the new Series Producer on Emmerdale. The appointment was made by new Executive Producer Steve Frost following the announcement last week that the former bosses were departing the show.

Gavin is no stranger to the Yorkshire based series having first worked as a senior TV publicist with Emmerdale, moving onto the show as a Storyline Writer in 2002. Working with producers Steve Frost and Kathleen Beedles he progressed to the roles of Story Editor and Script Editor with Emmerdale before joining Coronation Street in 2005 as a Story Associate under Producer Tony Wood. Gavin soon became the Manchester soap’s Story Editor and in 2006 he was made Assistant Producer to then Producer Steve Frost – a role he continued under current Producer Kim Crowther.

John Whiston, Director of ITV Studios is pleased with the news:‘Gavin cut his teeth on Corrie and Emmerdale and is steeped in creating exciting soap storylines. He’ll make a great producer on Emmerdale and with Steve Frost take the show to new heights.’

Last summer saw Gavin step up to the role of Producer for the hugely successful DVD release of “Coronation Street: Out of Africa” before returning to his main role with the show.

Steve Frost commented, “I am delighted that Gavin will be taking up the reins on Emmerdale. He brings a wealth of drama experience plus a great knowledge of Emmerdale to the role of Series Producer and is ideally suited to maintaining and developing the programme.”

Emmerdale suffered low ratings at Christmas, and has been dogged by negative press throughout 2008 as well as critical derision for its ‘pantomime’ style of storytelling. The new producer hopes to make the show ‘unmissiable’. The last time we heard that comment was from Yvon Grace back in 2002, she went on to get Crossroads axed. Let’s hope Blyth has better luck with the Yorkshire Television show.

Gavin Blyth comments: “I am thrilled to be returning to Emmerdale and to produce a show that I truly love and care for.

“Emmerdale has a great tradition of being simply unmissable television and I look forward to building on that – developing great, engaging characters and introducing compelling storylines at every turn.”