Kieran Roberts has been executive producer of Coronation Street since 2006. He previously was series producer following Carolyn Reynolds, whose reign was well received. A lot of his successes as series producers (such as the Hillman stuff) I think could well be credited to his predecessor.

I am curious as to the extent of Kieron's role and how he interfaces with the series producer. He's been there 10 years now, and I wonder how his role affects the show creatively.

To me the show is due a refresh across the board. Beyond character adjustments and story-lining, I think an effort to improve filming style and production to be much more up to date needs to occur. This happened slightly under Phil Collinson who brought in new camera techniques but I think the show could do with more now.

Watching Cold Feet has shown a level of production values in a Northern setting which Corrie could take some hints from. While I'm not by any means advocating non-linear filming or incidental music, the direction and film style is much more contemporary. Corrie has a large budget but still appears rather cheap on screen. I would like to see a shift away from the traditional 'soap' look and more toward the look of a drama series like Jimmy McGovern's 'The Street'.

Phil Collinson said: "I think the advent of HD has helped us - the HD cameras are brilliant, crisp and beautiful. But there were also things that I had wanted to do stylistically in terms of the pacing of the episodes because they now move faster than they did, and we've used the long lens a bit more to provide close-ups with the background out of focus. I hope that brings us in line with the dramas that people are watching, as I don't think people should watch us at 7.30pm and then watch a drama at 9pm and feel that it's different.

"I think soaps sit in a different place now than they perhaps did ten years ago. That line between soaps and dramas has blurred now, so we've looked at elements of the design, we've used practical lights on sets even during the daytime so they feel a bit warmer, and hopefully a bit more beautiful to look at!"

Unfortunately this sounds great on paper but hasn't been realised in practise and I really think it needs to be.

Furthermore I think there needs to be radical changes to the show from the perspective of writing and realism, to bring it out of the suspended-in-time feeling it has had for many years. This needs to be approached with care so as not to change the heart of the programme, while moving it to be with the times.

I am concerned while Kieran Roberts is part of the show, these changes and improvements will never happen. Can anyone with knowledge shed some light on this for me? Thanks.

Anyone?

You need KornerKabin to answer this one.

From what I gather Kieran Roberts isn't involved in the day to day running of the show, that is Kate Oates job. But I have a feeling he hand pics the producer and they have to kind of fit their own ideas into his over all vision for the show. So I would have to agree that if you want to see some serious changes at Corrie they need to replace the Roberts.

Great thread. I do feel that the show is being held back by Kieran Roberts. When is the last time that we had a really ballsy decision made in terms of cast shake up for instance? Roberts has a lot to answer for.

I have always thought that kieron Roberts held the show back

Didn't I read somewhere Daran Little quit Corrie because the two of them don't get on?

I take it until Corrie is exactly how you like it, now Blackburn has gone you are looking for someone new to blame?

Yes.

Nothing else to add.

I'm not a Corrie fan but I tuned in for several weeks recently and was shocked at how amateur and shoddy the show is on all levels.

The production standard is like something out of the 1980's. The actors just stand rigid and talk in every scene; there's zero behaviour or subtext and virtually all plot is conveyed through really 'on the nose' dialogue. How thick do they think the audience is?

The only movement experienced in most scenes is between the cutting of shots, otherwise everything else is static.

Scenes are also staged in a ham theatrical way with everyone stood in completely unnatural positions, like some amateur theatre production.

The sets look fake and worst of all the cast look completely shattered. How many hours are they working them?

Compared to modern shows such as Breaking Bad, it looks like something out of another century.

I completely agree with this post. I've no evidence but I'd say Corrie's main audience is the older generation who watch out of routine. I can't see it attracting the younger generation and once its core viewers die off it will have no one left watching it.

Aw when I said you had posted I was hoping for another one of your Kieron Roberts rants KK.

Corrie is in a better state than EastEnders at the moment, in my opinion. It needs a lot of work going, but it is now no longer the worst soap.

Sad to say but I think that title belongs to Emmerdale ATM.

Utterly pathetic post. Thought better of you Andy!

Well that just goes to show that it's all subjective , Emmerdale is the best for me at the moment, Corrie has been the worst for some time.

The other soaps may fluctuate but Corrie remains consistently bad. It's amateur, the values still lie in the 70s and some of the set is a memorial to past characters.

I posted something almost identical a few weeks ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.

If a new show came along, with this level of quality, it would be laughed off the air by critics and the public alike.

They only get away with it because it's "Corrie" and such a mass audience just watch t out of habit. For this reasons they feel no need to actually do anything original creative, in terms of filming techniques, plot progression, dialogue etc.

It really is as plain, unimaginative, and "Bottom of the barrel" as TV can get in terms of creativity and quality.

People like Stuart Blackburn and Kate Oates, seem to cycle through the position every few years, this guy has been there for 10 years. Is he allowed to just be there indefinitely, until he decides to leave or ITV feel the need to sack him?

He knows the show inside and out he's been a fan for years.

Corrie shouldn't have bothered appointing Kate "Soap Destroyer" Oates as producer he could easily have taken that role again.

That's the problem. He keeps the producers in check so they can't get rid of those they want too.

Im sure I read he had a lot to do with the rovers return staying the same after the fire.

BIB: please don't get me started on the interior sets over at Media City UK!

If you view older episodes of Coronation Street say, from 1989, some of them look like they could easily be used in 2016 they are that dated.

With a larger backlot the prison set (as an example) could've been built to look a little more realistic on screen... instead it's shoved above Roy's Rolls.

Regardless of Mr Robert's involvement in the day to day running of the programme I don't think he's helping the show move forward.

We need another Brian Parks to come along and swing the axe; there are too many characters who've outstayed their welcome on t'cobbles IMHO.

I'm not naming names as there's been plenty of discussion/threads created here on DS about certain people but I am inclined to agree with some of the replies.

The trouble with 'swinging the axe' as you put it , is that you then have to replace those characters you've 'swung' with ones who are a lot better!!
Of all the characters who have been introduced in the last three years or so there's barely one who I wouldn't push back out the door before axing any of the established cast!!
As for Kieran Roberts, anyone know why it seems to be considered the norm to freshen up the show by changing producer every 3 years or so, yet this guy is allowed to stay in position seemingly ad infinitum??

Really? I think Hollyoaks is the best right now and Corrie is decent, but Emmerdale just isn't doing it for me right now. The only story keeping me interested is Belle's breakdown. David proposing everyday, the Vanessa/Tracy feud and the Coira breakup are all terrible.

I'm sure there are people out there who could act certain people off the page... and then some.

Perhaps the output of episodes isn't helping? Imagine if years ago Coronation Street had been on five times a week with some of the greats?

Could they have coped with the sometimes dreary and far-fetched storylines? I suspect not IMHO.

Hmmm. I see he was around for the Richard Hillman storyline. Perhaps TPTB think because of how that storyline was received he's "gold"?!

I think so, and actually I believe the storyline was mostly Carolyn Reynolds' work, not KRs.

I can see him rejecting lots of ideas because "it's just not Corrie". Doesn't surprise me he is thought to have ensured the Rovers interior was recreated almost perfectly after the fire; that's an example of it. I bet that extends to the way the show is shot and all sorts of things.