Emmerdale executive producer Jane Hudson is to step down from the role after almost 1,000 episodes and five successful years in the job.
Hudson will leave on the September 22 after seeing through the episodes for this year’s blockbusting Super Soap Week.
During Jane’s tenure Emmerdale has been on exceptional form, winning an unprecedented number of awards (including recent BAFTAs and NTAs) and garnering huge critical acclaim for hard hitting, emotional stories such as Marlon’s stroke and Faith’s breast cancer.
Jane led the programme through Covid, keeping it show on air when most drama production in the UK ground to a halt. Massive rating weeks she has overseen have included the week featuring high wire action in a ravine and murder in a blazing maize maze and the killer storm week which marked Emmerdale’s 50th Birthday. Beyond the outstanding drama, Jane has championed many important ITV initiatives, including the innovative week where all the soaps in the UK came together to deliver on screen climate change messaging around COP26.
Hudson said “I’ve had a wonderful time at Emmerdale and feel very lucky to have spent the last five years working alongside such a hardworking and talented team. I’m extremely proud of what we‘ve achieved both on and off screen, especially during the pandemic when we all pulled together to make sure we never went off air. As hard as it is to say goodbye to my fictional family of villagers, I can’t wait to have weekends back with my real family. But mostly, I can’t wait to be an Emmerdale viewer again and have no idea what’s coming next.”
Huw Kennair-Jones, ITV drama commissioner, added: “Jane’s tenure at Emmerdale has been exceptional. As well as consistently delivering brilliant stories brilliantly told, she oversaw Emmerdale being the first Soap to resume filming during the Covid 19 pandemic ensuring it kept on air, for which everyone at ITV will be eternally grateful. I’d personally like to thank her for everything she’s done for the show over the last five years and wish her all the very best for the future.”
