John Whiston

The Secret of Soaps: The Story Behind the Stories

No one could accuse Coronation Street of taking it easy, even though this would be understandable for a middle-aged British telly institution. Over the last couple of years the ITV soap has given viewers multiple murders, deaths and suicides; explosions and a minibus crash; a pre-teen pregnancy; and even a gay vicar.

Audiences have been lapping up the drama, which regularly attracts more than 7 million viewers. Corrie remains the nation’s favourite soap.

RTS awards 2021 Fellowships

RTS Fellowships recognise industry luminaries who have made an outstanding, sustained and exceptional contribution to the industry.

This year the Fellowships have been presented to Simon Heath, CEO, World Productions; Sally Joynson, CEO, Screen Yorkshire; Danielle Lux, MD, CPL Productions; Ben McOwen Wilson, MD, YouTube UK and Ireland and Director, EMEA; Clive Myrie, BBC and John Whiston, MD, Continuing Drama, ITV.

This disunited kingdom: How do broadcasters respond to a fragmenting Britain?

Rhodri Talfan Davies, John Whiston, John Curtice, Kirsty Wark, Chris Banatvala, Alex Mahon

The threat to UK television from US streamers is growing, but there is also danger closer to home – the potential break-up of the country and a subsequent loss of “Britishness”. If indepen­dence movements flourish and the UK starts to fragment, how should broadcasters and producers respond? 

Our Friend in Leeds: John Whiston

I have had a few cool titles in my time – head of youth, head of the north, the pope of soap. But none quite compare with that of Dr Paul Litchfield, formerly titled surgeon commander, in charge of Royal Navy nuclear, biological and chemical defence.

He’s now an independent medical adviser to ITV and a great guy to have on your side – or, indeed, on a Zoom call during a pandemic. That’s exactly what the discussions needed: level-­headed rationality to chart a way through all the lockdown fear caused by the nightly news beat and to get the soap teams back to work.