EastEnders has confirmed a major change in its behind-the-scenes credits – here’s why that’s the case.
In the week of episodes starting on 16 June, the executive producer on the BBC soap is credited as Ben Wadey rather than the usual Chris Clenshaw.
That’s because the latter announced last year that he would be stepping down from the major role in 2025, and the credits on the BBC website suggest that the episode airing 13 June will be his swansong.
Clenshaw, who originally returned to the soap in 2022, said at the time that the show needed to keep “creatively refreshed”, and he had made the decision to depart as executive producer after this year’s 40th anniversary.
“As a proud EastEnders fan, it has been the honour of my life to be its custodian,” he said in a statement. “It has meant everything to me, and I’ve given Walford my all.
🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – The official channel for all fans.
“I made the tough decision that I would step down after the 40th anniversary many months ago – to keep EastEnders creatively refreshed as it’s a show that needs to constantly evolve.
“After what will be three years at the helm and leading the team through its milestone celebrations, the time feels right that I hand over the keys to The Queen Vic.
“Elstree holds a special place in my heart, and I know when the day comes, it’ll be hard to tear myself away.”
🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – The official channel for all fans.
Wadey was announced as his successor at the same time, having previously served as the commissioning executive at Channel 4, and before that as a story editor on EastEnders.
Clenshaw said that he was “confident” that “EastEnders will continue to thrive” under Wadey, adding: “I wish him the very best as it is without doubt the best job in telly and I hope he enjoys the ride just as much as I have.”
