CORONATION Street and Emmerdale boss John Whiston has quit ITV after nearly 30 years.
The channel veteran has overseen epic live episodes and helped shape storylines that have pulled in millions of viewers.
In a statement, Whiston said: “I’ve always said I’ve got the best job in TV. I used to say it privately in case ITV stopped paying me.
“It has been nothing short of an honour, as well as a blast, to work on the Soaps this lastdecade or so. We’ve had joy, we’ve had fun and we’ve had seasons in the Sun.
“We’ve alsohad misery and mayhem. We’ve had motorway crashes, tram crashes and floods. We’ve hadstories which have squeezed your heart till tears came out of your eyes.
“And we’ve coveredpretty much anything and everything that people have to face in their own lives and we’vedone that with care and humanity.
“And all that is down to the 600 or so people – the writers,crew, cast and editorial – who have kept the show on air and at an incredible quality day inday out. And it’s them who have made my job ridiculously easy. Just don’t tell ITV.”;;
Replacing him will be Iain MacLeod as Creative Director and Matt Cleary as Chief Operating Officer.
John continued: “With fantastic stories in place for the move to five episodes a week next January, and a never-before-seen mega mash-up between the two shows, the future for our ITV Soaps is set fair.
“So it’s the right time to leave and for me just to say thank you... to colleagues, to ITV and to our loyal, appreciative audience.”;;
