Coronation Street Executive Producer Kieran Roberts is leaving after 16 years with the show and nearly 34 years with ITV.
Roberts won a BAFTA for his work on Emmerdale
Roberts said he had been thinking about leaving for more than a year, but had put the decision on hold when Coronation Street announced the production of a sixth weekly episode last summer.
With the new double Wednesday episodes successfully launched last week, Roberts has decided to step down at the end of the year.
“When the move to six episodes was announced I knew I should stay to help make that happen,” he said.
“This has been a huge and very difficult decision and it’s one I have been thinking about for more than a year. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked on so many wonderful programmes and with so many brilliant colleagues during my time at ITV.
“Coronation Street is a special place and it’s been a huge privilege working on such an amazing programme with the greatest team in television.
During his time with the broadcaster, Roberts was Creative Director for drama from the northern-based production team. He has overseen production of Blue Murder, Mobile, Cold Blood, The Trials of Jimmy Rose, Midwinter of the Spirit and Tina and Bobby.
He is also a former producer of Emmerdale and won a BAFTA with the Yorkshire based soap in 2001.
John Whiston, Managing Director of Continuing Drama and Head of ITV in the North for ITV Studios, said: “Kieran has brought to both Coronation Street and Emmerdale his unrivalled eye for story and character and his own particular humour and humanity.
“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone in ITV who doesn’t deeply respect and admire Kieran. He’s one of the most conscientious, hardworking, clever and humane colleagues one could ever hope to have.
“Ally this to one of the keenest editorial eyes in the business and you have the consummate television executive. ITV has been fortunate to have him devoting his incredible energy, talent and his working life to the company for as long as he has.”
