John Yorke is currently the Controller of BBC Drama Production.

He attended Newcastle University^[1]. He joined the BBC in the late 1980s, working initially in radio as a studio manager and then as a producer on BBC Radio 5.

In 1994, he moved to television, working as a script editor on EastEnders before becoming storyline consultant on Casualty.

In 1999, after a brief period as producer on "Sunburn" starring Michelle Collins, he took on the executive producer role on EastEnders. During his time there, he was given the task of introducing the soap's fourth weekly episode and managed a win over long running rival Coronation Street in a rare head-to-head showdown. He also axed the majority of the Di Marco family and helped introduce popular characters such as the Slater family.

As what Mal Young described as "two of EastEnders most successful years", Yorke was responsible for big ratings winners such as "Who shot Phil?", Ethel's death, Jim and Dot's marriage, abusive Trevor and Kat's revelation to daughter Zoe that she was her mother. Also Yorke was responsible for the recasting of Sam Mitchell in January 2002.

In June 2002 he left the popular soap for a senior position under Mal Young in the BBC's in-house Drama Series team, but soon after he left to work for Channel 4 as the Head of Drama. There he commissioned successful shows such as Shameless, Sex Traffic and the acclaimed Omagh.

In 2004 it was announced he would return to the BBC, taking over Mal Young's position, as Controller of BBC Drama Series, and, in addition, Co-Head of Independent Drama Commissioning (i.e programmes made for the BBC by independent production companies, rather than in-house). One of the reasons he returned was to set around reversing the fortunes of EastEnders, which had been facing tough times in comparison to the past. The results have been mixed.

As Controller of Continuing Drama Series, he has been ultimately responsible for overseeing some of the most popular programmes on British television, including EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City and Doctors.

In 2006 he was made Controller of the newly formed BBC Drama Production - a merger of Continuing Series and Series and Serials. While at the BBC Yorke has been Commissioning Editor/Executive Producer for Life on Mars, Robin Hood, Bodies, The Street, A Class Apart, Waterloo Road and Holby Blue, as well as looking after various series of Spooks, Hustle and New Tricks.

In 2007 John's job title was changed to that of Controller Continuing Drama Production Studios. He works alongside Kate Harwood. He reports to Nicolas Brown, Director of Television Drama Production.

Media offices
Preceded by Matthew Robinson	Executive Producer of EastEnders 2000 – 2002	Succeeded by Louise Berridge

[edit] References

1. ^ News - English Literature, Language and Linguistics - Newcastle University

[edit] External links

• EastEnders: Faith, Morality and Hope in the Community, Speech by John Yorke
• Executive Producer John Yorke Reveals All
• John Yorke at the Internet Movie Database

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