Anita Turner
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Anita Turner is a British script editor, and television producer, currently serving as the Series Producer of British television soap opera Emmerdale. She took over the role in January 2008.
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[edit] History
Anita used to work as a script editor for the ITV soap Emmerdale and held that role for three years.
[edit] Becoming Series Producer
It was announced on Media Guardian that Kathleen Beedles, the soap's current Series Producer, would be departing from Emmerdale as of the beginning of the new year. It was later revealed on ITV.com that Anita would take over as Series Producer from January 2008.[1] [2]
Anita's first produced episode aired on Monday 3 March 2008 which featured the civil partnership of Paul Lambert and Jonny Foster
[edit] Problems with the cast
Not long after her first produced episode reports emerged from an insider said that the morale has dropped on the set of Emmerdale since Anita took over from Kath Beedles as the soap's chief in January with her axing of characters and changing of storylines. This include the axing of Grayson Sinclair and Jonny Foster, played by Christopher Villiers and Richard Grieve respectively. It was also reported that those who are being spared the chop are now talking of quitting.[3]
Less than a week after the inital reports of poor morale Anita was slammed again for sacking another actor, this time child actor Benjamin Shooter, who joined the soap as Samson Dingle in April 2007 for crying. He was replaced by another toddler in February 2008 after bursting into tears when he saw screen dad Sam Dingle, played by James Hooton, being confronted by cops and the Dingles. Emma Shooter, Benjamin's mother, condemned bosses of treating her son like a "prop" and putting him in “horrifying” scenes showing armed robber Sam turning himself in to police.[4]
Following this, two further cast members, Verity Rushworth and Georgia Slowe both quit their roles in the show, adding further fuel to the fire that all is not well on set since the departure of Kathleen Beedles. Another cast member Jenna-Louise Coleman quit following the news that co-star Aiden Callaghan, who plays Miles De Souza had been axed.
Since Anita's arrival a total of eight actors Freddie Jones, Christopher Villiers, Richard Grieve, Georgia Slowe, Ayden Callaghan, Verity Rushworth and child actor Benjamin Shooter, have all either left or will be leaving this year.
[edit] Viewers response
Since Anita took over, many fans have flocked to online communities like Digital Spy to air their disgust with how Anita is managing the show. With seven cast members leaving already, many have blamed it on Anita being out of her depth and not being in touch with the viewers. Out of protest, one fan community was shut down, citing Anita Turner as the one to blame over the continuing decline in quality. She has been criticised by fans for "forgetting" other storylines and neglecting a large majority of major characters.
Since December, Emmerdale's ratings have fallen dramatically and at the British Soap Awards in May, 2008, failed to pick up more than one award, after only being nominated for five out of a possible seventeen.
Anita has responded to her critics by calling the response from viewers "hilarious" which has only served to alienate loyal viewers even further.
| Preceded by Kathleen Beedles (2005-2007) |
Emmerdale Series Producer 2008 - |
Succeeded by incumbent |
[edit] References
- ^ "Emmerdale's new Producer", ITV.com. URL last accessed 2007-11-15
- ^ "New Corrie, 'Emmerdale' producers named", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-11-15
- ^ "'Emmerdale' stars 'unhappy' with new chief", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2008-03-29
- ^ "'Emmerdale' boss slammed for sacking toddler", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2008-04-04
