In terms of what we can expect as we enter the New Year, Kate says, "There's loads of really exciting stuff. There's loads of shocks coming up. Just when you think a story is going in one direction, we absolutely do a complete 360, and it goes in a completely different direction."
"I think bold, innovative storytelling is key; exciting, thrilling, compelling drama that really keeps the audience captivated. But at the heart of it, there needs to be a truth, and that's what I always seek to find, is that truth in those stories. So, I am genuinely, not just as a producer, but as a fan, I'm dead excited about what's coming up because all the stories are just on fire."
"It feels like we've got all the big clans in place. We've got the Platts, who are gonna feature really heavily. We've got the Websters; again, big clan, building that clan, seeing those dynamics. The Connors with Lisa and Carla and Betsy and Ryan; building that, building the factory. We've got lots coming up which I think is going to be really exciting.
The idea of a clan-led show does appeal to me, as it allows for strong characterisation, tradition and the familiarity Kate spoke of, as well as, hopefully, ensuring more family-based, domestic drama, despite what we now know of the continued drive for issue-led, gritty stories.
I have two hopes here; one, is that the relationships feel genuinely rooted in the reality of day-to-day life; the other is that focusing on clans doesn't compartmentalise the show too much, as interaction between characters from different groups is what makes it feel like a real community. Again, time will tell how all of this will play out.
Summing up her overall vision for the show, Kate said, "Basically, my vision is making sure that we keep people engaged, and keep people entertained and keep people guessing, because we don't want people to become complacent. We want to pull the rug from underneath them sometimes, just as the audience are sat at home with a cup of tea, settling down for Corrie, with their digestives - or I'd go for custard creams, but everyone's got their own preference - and something happens that they did not expect. So, definitely expect the unexpected in 2025."