Lorraine Newman
{{Short description|British television producer (born 1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{for|the American actress|Laraine Newman}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lorraine Newman
| birth_name =
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1978}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = British
| occupation = Producer, scriptwriter
| yearsactive = 1997–present
| spouse =
| television = EastEnders
| notable_works = See below
| employer = BBC (1997–2017)
}}
Lorraine Newman (born 1978) is a British scriptwriter, television producer, and the executive producer of the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2012 to 2013. Newman, who has worked on EastEnders for "nearly 20 years", received the role of executive producer when her predecessor stepped down in 2012.{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title=Exclusive: 'EastEnders' exec Lorraine Newman on future plans for soap - interview|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a437316/eastenders-exec-lorraine-newman-on-future-plans-for-soap-interview.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines|access-date=12 November 2012|date=12 November 2012}} Newman was also the executive producer of Babs, a BBC biopic about Dame Barbara Windsor.
Career
=''EastEnders''=
{{Quote box |width=20% |align=left|bgcolor=#B0C4DE|quote="She knows EastEnders like the back of her hand, so everyone feels very confident and happy because we're in safe hands. Lorraine knows the show and everybody knows Lorraine, so it doesn't feel like a new boss. You can trust her opinion on things because she knows the characters so well".{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders' Nitin Ganatra talks AJ arrival, Masood future - interview|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a391192/eastenders-nitin-ganatra-talks-aj-arrival-masood-future-interview.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines|access-date=10 November 2012|date=3 July 2012}}|source=—Nitin Ganatra talking about Newman becoming the executive producer (2012).}}
Newman first began working on the BBC soap opera EastEnders aged 19 as a script secretary and, according to John Yorke (Controller of BBC Drama Production and New Talent), is the first executive producer to have "occupied every editorial role on the show".{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders': Lorraine Newman to be permanent executive producer|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a390097/eastenders-lorraine-newman-to-be-permanent-executive-producer.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hachette Filipacchi UK|access-date=10 November 2012|date=27 June 2012}}
In March 2012, it was announced that the then current executive producer of EastEnders, Bryan Kirkwood was to step down,{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood to stand down|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a370668/eastenders-executive-producer-bryan-kirkwood-to-stand-down.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines|access-date=10 November 2012|date=12 March 2012}} with "experienced series producer" Newman taking over the role on a temporary basis. Kirkwood said, "I'm delighted to leave the show in the capable hands of Lorraine Newman. Lorraine has been by my side every step of the way for the last two years and knows EastEnders inside out. I wish her and the show every future success". In June 2012, it was announced that Newman would become the full-time executive producer. Newman commented, "It is an absolute honour to be taking on the role of executive producer at EastEnders on a permanent basis. I am looking forward to leading a talented creative team, cast and crew into 2013". Yorke said, "Over the last few months, Newman has steered the show through a period of considerable change, and she's done an amazing job positioning the show for one of the most exciting autumns I can remember. With her depth of experience, her passion for the programme and her commitment to talent on-screen and off, she's the perfect person to take EastEnders forward". Her first episode aired on 16 July.{{Cite episode |title= Episode dated 16/07/2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l02zp |series= EastEnders |series-link=EastEnders |credits= Director: Ian White; Executive Producer: Lorraine Newman; Writer: Heather Robson |network=BBC |station=BBC One |airdate=16 July 2012}}
==As Executive Producer==
One of Newman's first key tasks as temporary executive producer was to oversee production of a special episode featuring a live segment in which the character of Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) carries the Olympic Torch as an official torch bearer in the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-star-danielle-harold-will-play-1144275|title=Holding the baby: EastEnders' Lola in live birth for special Olympics episode|last=Methven|first=Nicola|date=15 July 2012|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|access-date=17 September 2012}} Carl Doran, creative head of the BBC’s Torch coverage, revealed the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and EastEnders production team had worked for two years to organise this.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2011/11/olympic_torch_coming_to_walfor.html|title=Olympic Torch coming to Walford|last=Mosey|first=Roger|author2=Doran, Carl |date=15 November 2011|publisher=BBC Online|access-date=8 November 2012}} The episode was part of the official torch relay, meaning the torch made a special detour from London{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18953347|title=Olympic torch: Reality and fiction blur in London|date=23 July 2012|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC Online|access-date=10 August 2012}} to the EastEnders set at the BBC Elstree Centre, Borehamwood.{{cite news|url=http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/9834603.Olympic_torch_comes_to_Borehamwood_during_EastEnders_live_show/|title=Olympic torch comes to Borehamwood during EastEnders live show|last=Slater|first=Anna|date=24 July 2012|work=Elstree & Borehamwood Times|publisher=Newsquest|access-date=9 August 2012}}
Billy Mitchell was also involved in one of Newman’s most controversial storylines, in which his granddaughter Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) has her baby taken away by social worker Trish Barnes. Real-life social workers protested this "unhelpful portrayal", with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) calling the BBC "too lazy and arrogant" to correctly portray the child protection process, and saying that the baby was taken "without sufficient grounds to do so". Bridget Robb, acting chief of the BASW, said the storyline provoked "real anger among a profession well used to a less than accurate public and media perception of their jobs".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2012/oct/09/eastenders-social-care|title=Social workers outraged by EastEnders storyline about baby Lexi|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=9 October 2012|access-date=9 October 2012|first=Roy|last=Greenslade}}
Newman's first major cast change was reintroduction of Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) in August 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/255917/EastEnders-Sharon-Rickman-has-a-torrid-return-to-Albert-Square/|title=EastEnders: Sharon Rickman has a torrid return to Albert Square|last=Hill|first=Susan|date=10 June 2012|work=Daily Star|access-date=10 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813184825/http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/255917/EastEnders-Sharon-Rickman-has-a-torrid-return-to-Albert-Square|archive-date=13 August 2012|url-status=dead}} which Newman revealed had been a year in the planning.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/gameon/view/265576/Letitia-Dean-It-s-wonderful-to-be-back-as-Sharon-Rickman/|title=Letitia Dean: It's wonderful to be back as Sharon Rickman|last=Hill|first=Susan|date=5 August 2012|work=Daily Star|publisher=Northern and Shell Media|access-date=9 November 2012}} Upon her return, Dean said that Newman was "very good at character insight".{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-08-13/letitia-dean-on-her-return-to-eastenders---and-the-fib-that-won-her-the-role-of-sharon-watts|title=Letitia Dean on her return to EastEnders - and the fib that won her the role of Sharon Watts|last=Brown|first=David|date=13 August 2012|work=Radio Times|publisher=Exponent|access-date=9 November 2012}} Ben Mitchell (Joshua Pascoe) departed in the same month {{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a361185/eastenders-murder-details-revealed.html|title='EastEnders' murder details revealed|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=20 January 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=26 January 2012}} following the conclusion of the storyline of Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison)'s murder storyline, with Newman confirming the departure of Anthony Moon (Matt Laspinskas) soon afterwards.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a380839/eastenders-exit-for-anthony-moon-confirmed.html|title='EastEnders' exit for Anthony Moon confirmed|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=9 May 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=9 May 2012}}{{cite journal|last=Jones|first=Allison|title=I've loved EastEnders - I'm disappointed Anthony's leaving!|journal=Inside Soap|date=25–31 August 2012|issue=34|pages=98|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK}} Newman later introduced Ava Hartman (Clare Perkins), the secret daughter of Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell),{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a403688/eastenders-coras-daughter-arrival-confirmed.html|title='EastEnders': Cora's daughter arrival confirmed|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=4 September 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=4 September 2012}} and Ava's son Dexter (Khali Best),{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a436702/eastenders-casts-avas-son-dexter-hartman.html|title='EastEnders' casts Ava's son Dexter Hartman|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=8 November 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=8 November 2012}} and also upgraded Poppy Meadow (Rachel Bright) from a recurring to a regular character.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a433049/eastenders-poppy-meadow-to-stay-in-walford.html|title='EastEnders' Poppy Meadow to stay in Walford|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=24 October 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=24 October 2012}} Major departures under Newman’s tenure include Syed Masood (Marc Elliott) and Christian Clarke (John Partridge) in November 2012 {{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a404371/eastenders-confirms-syed-christian-exits.html|title=Updated: 'EastEnders' confirms Syed, Christian exits|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|first2=Christian|last2=Tobin|date=7 September 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=10 November 2012}} and villain Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman), killed off in the Christmas Day episode.{{cite web|last=Rowley|first=Alison|title='EastEnders': Derek Branning to have Christmas exit?|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a410839/eastenders-derek-branning-to-have-christmas-exit.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=23 October 2012|date=7 October 2012}}{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders' David Witts "sad" over Jamie Foreman exit|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a432655/eastenders-david-witts-sad-over-jamie-foreman-exit.html|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|access-date=23 October 2012|date=23 October 2012}}
On 29 July 2013, Newman left the post, with Dominic Treadwell-Collins taking over. Her final episode aired on 5 December 2013 {{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/posts/Lorraine-Newman-leaves-EastEnders|title=Lorraine Newman leaves EastEnders|date=29 July 2013}} In 2018, she returned to EastEnders as a writer.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bnbt63/credits|title=BBC One - EastEnders, 11/10/2018 - Credits|publisher=BBC Programmes|access-date=8 October 2018}}
Filmography
;Television
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | |||
| Year
! width="300"| Title ! width="300"| Role ! width="300"| Employer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | EastEnders | rowspan="3"|Script Editor/Secretary | rowspan="13"|BBC |
| rowspan="2"|1998 | City Central | ||
| EastEnders: The Mitchells - Naked Truths | |||
| 2000–2001 | EastEnders | Script Producer | |
| 2000 | Thin Ice | Script Editor | |
| 2001–2003, 2005–2012 | rowspan="2"|EastEnders | Series Producer | |
| 2002 | rowspan="3"|Producer | ||
| rowspan="2"|2003 | Perfectly Frank | ||
| Slaters in Detention | |||
| 2010–2011 | EastEnders: E20 | Series Producer | |
| 2012–2013 | EastEnders | rowspan="3"|Executive Producer | |
| 2012 | Billy's Olympic Nightmare | ||
| 2016–2017 | Babs |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newman, Lorraine}}
Category:British soap opera producers