Emmerdale makes announcement over future of ITV soap

Emmerdale bosses have shared that Sophie Roper will replace Kate Brooks as the soap's producer and will work alongside Laura Shaw. As part of the role, Sophie will be responsible for Emmerdale’s storytelling, casting, and production process.

She is moving from her role as Story Producer for Emmerdale, which she has held since joining ITV’s multi-award-winning Yorkshire-based soap in July 2016.

Speaking of accepting the new title, Sophie said: "As a lifelong soap fan, I feel privileged to be part of such an iconic and well-loved programme and I'm thrilled to be taking the show forward as Producer, alongside an incredibly talented and dedicated team.

"Emmerdale truly is a special place both on and offscreen and as we embark on this next chapter, I look forward to bringing more bold and groundbreaking drama to the Dales.”

The soap's Executive Producer, Iain MacLeod, said: "Sophie is a real talent and has a natural eye for a big, bold story so she is the perfect person to maintain Emmerdale’s tradition of challenging, exciting narratives.

"I am thrilled that she has made the well-deserved step up into her new role and with her as a more senior part of the very talented team in Leeds, viewers will be in for an engrossing, exhilarating and emotional ride.”

Since her time on Emmerdale, Sophie has been responsible for helping to craft some of Emmerdale’s most memorable and momentous storylines, including Pierce Harris' (Jonathan Wrather) coercive control over Rhona Ghoskirk (Zoe Henry), Charity Dingle's (Emma Atkins) flashback episode, Faith Dingle’s (Sally Dexter) critically acclaimed cancer storyline and Meena Jutla’s (Paige Sandhu) arrival in the Village and her murderous rampage.

She also worked on rival soap, Coronation Street, where she began her career as a trainee location manager. Sophie spent two years in that role, before making the transition into the editorial department as a storyliner.

During her time with Coronation Street, Sophie was part of the team who developed the storylines for the September 2015 showpiece live episode, produced to mark and celebrate ITV’s 60th anniversary as the UK’s most successful commercial broadcaster.

During the exhilarating episode, drug dealer Callum Logan (Sean Ward), the ex-partner of Kylie Platt (Paula Lane), who had been waging war on the Platt family was bludgeoned from behind as he was about to attack Sarah (Tina O'Brien).

His body was then buried in the foundations of the garage at 8 Coronation Street, where it lay undetected for almost a year. Little did the Platts matriarch Gail (Helen Worth) know that she was sleeping in the extension where Callum’s body was buried.