EastEnders

That's the scheduled output - not the production output. It could be that the gap between recording and TXing has reduced to cope with the reduced output - which would mean something would need to be done before it had an on-air impact?

Well, there is a team involved, of course, and a lot of the time the executive producer will be told what to do, by the Controller of BBC1 or the Head of Drama and so on. But someone does have to have the final say.

Yes - though there are no longer channel controller roles. Charlotte Moore (former BBC One Channel Controller) now has a wider ranging role that includes broad brush controller roles across all general channels (poss linear only).

It has been changed slightly with the reinstatement of the BBC TWO controller post - where the channel editor, Patrick Holland, was promoted to the role earlier this year. Still, I can't help but think that they're still reporting to the director of BBC Content.

Ah - had missed his 'upgrade'. But yes - I think Director of BBC Content is still overall 'in charge'.

Well, indeed, but the general point I was making is that O'Connor will have had to answer to the management above him, and similarly he will have been reliant on the work of the team beneath him. It's not just a case of the whole show being reliant on the whims of one person.

I did read they had problems and maybe I am being cynical here as the Bus Crash was always planned but was it not moved at the last minute to air the same week as the National Television Awards to sway a few more votes EastEnders way.

I'm picking my words carefully here but bringing the bus story line forward was a senior management decision caused by concerns which had arisen over the previous few months & taken over the head of the series producer. I don't think it had anything to do with the NTv awards, I can't say for sure but Its not what I have been told. I don't want to come across all 'secret squirrel' but commenting on this is difficult without affecting reputations or breaking confidences.

Due to having caught up on a backlog of issues Private Eyes a few weeks ago I recalled the bus crash incident getting a mention. A quick search later and I found the below taken/scanned from 10th February (issue 1437)...

...I dare say his departure may get a mention in their next issue which is out this Wednesday.

So according to that, 4 episodes which were in the can already got scrapped? Things must have been bad for it to be taken that far.

Also explains why nobody died (apart from the driver anyway) and the people who were injured made miraculously swift recoveries.

I'm still not convinced about the NTv awards bit but the rest is spot on.

Tonight's was the first of the John Yorke episodes with him in the credits as "Executive Consultant" - do they not have an Exec Producer anymore then? Also a subtle but clearly deliberate change as Julie Smith & Tony Holland get the final long credit hold.