This probably sounds like a stupid question to anybody that knows how it all works.

But I am just wondering how it all works behind the scenes when it comes to what actually goes out (I'm talking about Eastenders BTW, it's the only one I watch )

Google says:


But that doesn't really give much away.

So there is a team of writers that write the scripts together, right? They decide on what the characters will do next? Does the executive producer have the right to say no to the scripts?

Does the EP decide if new characters are coming in, or is that down to somebody else?

I would really like to understand the process behind what we see on screen, I see a lot of people talking about the EP, but I don't really understand what his role is in it all.

If anybody knows about this stuff and could give me a quick outline of the process, I'd be very grateful

think of a large corporate business, you will have most times a chairman,boards of directors, CEO, COO, they are usually the most powerful.

then you get managing directors so they are responsible for the runnng of the business, in this case that will be DtC. he will then have lots of managers and departments under him, HR, Story Team, cast, crew, logistics, set construction, directors etc.

the storyliners will suggest stories and I understand with EE they have story conferences involving the whole team such as writers and storylines, they will decide on stories and the writers and directors will sometimes pitch to be the one who writes or directs a certain episode.

DTc has to oversee the runnng of the operation so he is responsible for the overall management of all the elements, making sure that the production is within budget, filmed and edited on time.

but and this is a big but, the BBC have a compliance department and whatever Eastenders produce has to be authorised by them and so above DTC there are people who can over rule him and say no.

like an MD he has people who he reports to and who can tell him what direction to go in if they feel it is necessary

bit of extra info tho it is generic to the job title http://creativeskillset.org/job_role...utive_producer

Thank you

That does make sense to me, I just always wondered why people would always complain about DTC about things they are not enjoying with the show. I understand a bit more now.

The idea of having to pitch a story idea is quite interesting. It makes me wonder how some things made it through

I wonder if they ever have over ruled DTC on a decision.

It's run like a mafia crew, something very dear to my heart what with being the former boss of East London.

Hopefully with a bit less sickening violence

sure I read earlier in the year a dtc interview that mentioned that compliance had made them change a story to make it more suitable but cant for the life of me remember what the story was.

Yes, people seem to think that DTC does everything, when in reality he has a team of people coming up with ideas and doing the work and as the overall boss he says yes or no, changes the way things work, suggests improvements etc. although I think he is quite hands on and creative and leads the way with some story ideas

whilst DTC is ultimately responsible some of the things he gets blamed for are down to his staff and what they do but the buck stops with him

Indeed D-R, the mafia took one look at the sickening way in which DTC is ruining Eastenders, and wanted no part in it. They took to organised crime and racketeering and murder instead. Honest work.

Not as much as He-Man I suspect

I watched the first 5 episodes of EE on youtube and they didn't seem to have an Executive Producer back then. A producer and and Director yes but not an EP. The director was credited last too and I think thats the way it should be, though with soaps the directors change a lot I think.

Where does a series producer come into the process as both Australian soaps and hollyoaks have one of them - know in neighbours he's what the Americans call the show runner presumerably answerable to exec producer but unsure and if that's true for neighbours would it work the same way in the other 2?

The soaps have different meanings for 'Executive Produer'.

On Eastenders (and Hollyoaks since 2013) the Executive Producer is the person who runs the show, approves all the scripts and storyline ideas etc.

On Corrie and Emmerdale it's different. Stuart Blackburn and Kate Oates are just titled as 'Producers', but are in charge of running the series. The Executive Producers on those shows (Kieran Roberts and Steve November) both have bigger jobs within ITV Drama and keep an eye on the direction of Corrie/Emmerdale as part of that, but they don't run the shows.