John Yorke (producer)
John Yorke | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Yorke in 2019 | |
| Born | John Roland Clifford Yorke 9 July 1962 Stepney, London, England |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Employer | BBC / Channel 4 |
| Television | EastEnders, Wolf Hall, Life on Mars |
John Roland Clifford Yorke (born 9 July 1962)[1][2] is a British television producer, screenwriter, editor, and author who, as head of Channel 4 Drama (2003–2005),[3][4] controller of BBC drama production (2006–2012)[5] and managing director of Company Pictures (2013–2015), has commissioned or produced many award-winning television and radio programmes, including EastEnders, Wolf Hall, Shameless, Life on Mars, Father Brown, Spooks, and The Archers.[6][7] Yorke also founded the BBC Writers Academy.[8][9]
Yorke taught as a visiting professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne[10] and teaches at the National Film and Television School.[11] Since 2016 Yorke has taught screenwriting through his own company, John Yorke Story.
Yorke is the author of Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them (2014), an exploration of story structures particularly relevant to film and television. The book has been translated into multiple languages.[12][13][14]
In 2026 Yorke's second book, Trip to the Moon: Understanding the True Power of Story, was published by Penguin.[15]
Early Life and education
[edit]Yorke was born and grew up in Stepney, London.[1] He “read avidly” as a child, a fact which he attributes to his mother, saying that she “used to read up to a really exciting bit, toss me the book and then I would have to finish it myself”.[16] His favourite books were by British thriller writers such as Alistair MacLean, Hammond Innes, Ian Fleming, and Mark Twain.[16]
Yorke studied English Literature at Newcastle University[17] and then briefly worked as a theatre director[18] before joining the BBC in 1986.[19]
Career
[edit]BBC
[edit]Yorke's first job at the BBC was as a studio manager and then as a producer on BBC Radio 5.[19] In 1994 Yorke moved to television, working as a script editor on EastEnders before becoming the storyline consultant on Casualty. In 1999, after a brief period as producer on Sunburn,[20] he took on the executive producer role on EastEnders.[21] Yorke undertook a “radical shake-up”[22] of the programme, introducing the Slater family and the Trueman family, and axing most of the Di Marco Family[21]. These changes were broadly considered an improvement at the time.[22]
During his tenure the show featured notable storylines such as Ethel Skinner's assisted death, Jim Branning and Dot Cotton's marriage, and "Who Shot Phil?”, the finale of which attracted 20,000,000 viewers and led UEFA to move a semi-final match to avoid competing with the EastEnders broadcast slot.[23] Yorke also oversaw some storylines which attracted national controversy. The 2002 episode in which Trevor Morgan attacked Little Mo over Christmas dinner drew so many complaints that the Broadcasting Standards Commission undertook their first study of sex and violence in soap operas in twenty years[24], and led to considerable negative media coverage.[25][26] Yorke defended the inclusion of adult and distressing themes, pointing to the fact that police forces had requested copies of the episode to use in training and to the number of real victims who felt encouraged to call the BBC hotline that was promoted during the broadcast.[25][27] During the period that Yorke was executive producer EastEnders received commendations from The Meningitis Trust, Mental Health in the Media, the NSPCC, the Police, the National Schizophrenia Fellowship and the Terence Higgins Trust for the show's coverage of social issues.[25]
Channel 4
[edit]In May 2003 Yorke accepted a job at Channel 4 as the Head of Drama. Although he felt at the time that the channel's drama offering lacked a “coherent identity”, he had a broad remit from the director of programmes and considered it an opportunity to make bold choices, stating in an interview: “[w]e need to be looking at the new and the innovative rather than the traditional. I don't want to do costume drama.”[28] This approach had some success, with commissions including Shameless, Omagh, and the two-parter Sex Traffic,[29] which Yorke later described as one of the productions he is most proud of.[16] However he was unable to persuade the channel's bosses to develop several of the projects he thought had a lot of potential, including Life on Mars.[30]
Return to the BBC
[edit]After the exit of several key figures in 2005 the BBC offered Yorke a position under the new joint title of Controller of BBC Drama Series and Co-Head of Independent Drama Commissioning.[31] One reason for approaching Yorke in particular was a decline in the popularity of EastEnders, with critics disparaging recent seasons and the show hitting a record low of 6,000,000 in viewers.[32][33] Yorke returned to the BBC and commissioned several notable shows, whilst also acting as executive producer of the Internet spin-off EastEnders: E20 and BBC daytime drama, Land Girls.[34]
That same year Yorke founded the BBC Writers Academy, a paid year-long training scheme for aspiring television writers.[35] It was unusual in that successful applicants were given the chance to develop scripts for prominent BBC productions, with the finished work ultimately being produced as part of regular programming.[36]
One of Yorke's last significant BBC roles was as acting editor of radio soap The Archers in early 2012, while the programme's editor Vanessa Whitburn took long service leave.[37] Yorke left the BBC again later that year, although he returned briefly in 2017 when the then-executive producer of EastEnders Sean O'Connor stepped down.[38] Although he was contracted for three months, Yorke ended up remaining as executive consultant for slightly over a year, during which time EastEnders won a BAFTA for Continuing Drama.[39][40]
Post-BBC
[edit]In 2012 Yorke became managing director at Company Pictures,[6][41][42] taking over from founders Charles Pattinson and George Faber, both of whom who he had previously worked with on Shameless for Channel 4. During this period he was credited as an executive producer and occasionally a writer on a range of dramas including Skins Redux[43] (2013), The Missing[44] (2014), Red Rock[45] (2015-16) and The Moonstone[46] (2016). In 2015 Company Pictures began production on an ambitious six-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy with Yorke again acting as executive producer. The resulting series was critically acclaimed,[47] winning three Baftas, a Peabody award, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film.[48][49][50]
While working at Company Pictures Yorke also completed his first book, Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them,[51] which was published by Penguin in 2013. Given Yorke's experience in training and mentoring junior writers many reviewers were surprised that Into the Woods, as one reviewer put it, “is not a how-to book for screenwriters but a philosophical inquiry, with a particular emphasis on structure”.[52][53] Rather than identifying an underlying pattern and telling would-be writers how to follow it, Yorke wrote that he wanted to explore why stories ended up repeating similar patterns across different times and cultures,[54] building an argument for what author and journalist Will Storr has termed Yorke's “hidden symmetry”[55], a process “in which protagonists and antagonists function as opposites with their rising and falling fortunes mirroring one another.”[55] Into the Woods continues to be popular with both aspiring writers and academics - according to the publisher it has sold over 250,000 copies[15], and Henry Sutton, who co-directs the UK's highest-ranked creative writing undergraduate course, has described it as a “seminal” work.[56]
Yorke has continued to move into more roles involving teaching and speaking. In 2014 he presented his work on fundamental story structures as part of the Talks at Google speaker series,[57] and in 2019 the BBC relaunched the BBC Writers Academy as part of BBC Studios, and Yorke was appointed as Head of the programme.[58]
In 2016 Yorke founded John Yorke Story, an accredited online learning provider which runs training courses in writing for various genres and mediums, as well as other media production roles.
Notable commissions
[edit]Yorke commissioned Waterloo Road on his return to the BBC from Channel 4.[59] Briefed to find a new returning pre-watershed drama, he approached Shed Productions, who had made Bad Girls and Footballers Wives.[60] During early conversations Yorke had the idea of using a school precinct as a setting, and Anne McManus and Maureen Chadwick wrote a pilot episode. After the first series aied in 2006, Yorke asked Anne Mensah – then assistant commissioning editor – to would take over, and under Mensah the show moved to BBC Scotland[61] where it continued until 2015. In September 2021, it was announced that Waterloo Road would be revived[62] and new seasons resumed from 2023.
After listening to a Radio 4 programme on GK Chesterton's Father Brown book series, Yorke proposed creating a television adaptation which would become Father Brown.[63][64] BBC Daytime commissioned the first season and Yorke asked two of his former BBC Writers Academy students to create the show.[65] It aired in January 2013 on BBC One and Yorke was executive producer for two seasons. On its thirteenth season in 2026, it is the UK's number one daytime drama series by viewers.[66]
One of the first shows Yorke wanted develop at Channel 4 was Life on Mars, but according to show writer Ashley Pharoah broadcasters had been "very anxious about it as a concept".[30] Although Yorke redeveloped the original script over 18 months it was ultimately turned down by director of programmes Kevin Lygo.[67] When Yorke returned to the BBC, the show was finally greenlit by Julie Gardner, Head of Drama at BBC Wales. Yorke acted as joint commissioning editor for the show's entire run (2006 – 2007).[68]
Award-winning productions
[edit]This is a list of awards given to productions on which Yorke is credited as a producer or executive producer, where the award recognises the production as a whole.
See also List of awards and nominations received by EastEnders.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ "John Roland Clifford Yorke – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
- ^ "Abbott recasts C4 drama at cost of £100k". the Guardian. 16 June 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC head moves to Channel 4". 12 February 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC - Press Office - John Yorke to be Controller, In-House Drama". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b Sweney, Mark. "BBC drama boss John Yorke leaves to head independent production company". www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "About John Yorke". John Yorke Story. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ BBC Writersroom. "BBC Writersroom interviews drama commissioner John Yorke". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Institute of Contemporary Arts. "Culture Now: John Yorke". archive.ica.art.
- ^ Yorke, John (3 April 2014). Into The Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them. London: Penguin. p. 5. ISBN 978-0141978109.
- ^ National School of Film and Television. "Tutors: John Yorke". nfts.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Yorke, John. "Viaggio nel bosco narrativo". www.audinoeditore.it. Audino Editore.
- ^ Yorke, John. "Den odödliga sagan". volante.se. Volante.
- ^ Yorke, John (2024). 走入森林：故事結構的五幕之旅. Hong Kong: 商周 (Cite Publishing LTD). ISBN 9786263903463.
- ^ a b "Trip to the Moon". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ a b c ScreenCraft (30 January 2019). "Interview with Storytelling Master John Yorke". ScreenCraft. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ News - English Literature, Language and Linguistics - Newcastle University Archived January 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "John Yorke, Controller of Drama Production and New Talent". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Team - John Yorke". John Yorke Story. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "My First Television Drama Commission – Composing for TV - Sheridan Tongue". Sheridan Tongue. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ a b Lindsay, Duncan (24 June 2017). "10 storylines which prove that EastEnders will be in great hands with John Yorke after boss Sean O'Connor leaves". Metro. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ a b Hodgson, Jessica (11 April 2002). "EastEnders producer steps up". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Soap climax watched by 20m". BBC News. 6 April 2001.
- ^ Henderson, Lesley (2007). Social issues in Television Fiction. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 58–60. ISBN 9780748625321.
- ^ a b c "EastEnders violence 'went too far'". BBC News. 30 May 2002.
- ^ Yorke, John (4 September 2002). "EastEnders: Faith, Morality and Hope in the Community". BBC Press Office.
- ^ Greer, Chris (2003). Sex Crime and the Media. Uffculme: Willan Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 1-84392-004-2.
- ^ McLean, Gareth (2 June 2003). "'No more costume drama'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "John Yorke, Controller of Drama Production and New Talent". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012.
- ^ a b "An interview with screenwriter Ashley Pharoah". John Yorke Story. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ <>"BBC - John Yorke, Former Controller of Drama Production and New Talent - Inside the BBC". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Plunkett, John (10 November 2004). "Yorke returns to BBC drama". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Channel 4's Yorke returns to take top drama role at BBC". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Mobilising Land Girls". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. 24 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC suspends Writers Academy for 2013 | News | The Stage". The Stage. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Davies, Keri (29 February 2012). "Acting Archers editor". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "EastEnders confirms producer is leaving immediately". Digital Spy. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "BAFTA Awards Search | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Bea (23 May 2018). "EastEnders boss John Yorke extends contract with soap". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (25 October 2012). "BBC Drama Head Departs to Lead 'Skins' Maker Company Pictures". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Yorke to head Company Pictures". Variety. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ White, Peter. "Company & Element secure TV3 soap". Broadcast. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "The Missing Series 1 | Drama | Two Brothers Pictures". TwoBrothersPictures. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Red Rock writer was so convinced show would be a disaster that he locked himself in a bathroom - executive producer". Irish Independent. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Yorke, John. "Moonstone: The birth of an entire genre". BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Wolf Hall becomes record-breaking drama series for BBC Two". BBC Media Centre. 6 March 2015.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b ""Wolf Hall" and "Downton Abbey" on MASTERPIECE on PBS Earn Golden Globe® Nominations". About PBS - Main. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Wolf Hall". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ a b "TV Baftas: Double win for Wolf Hall". BBC News. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Yorke, John (3 April 2014). Into The Woods.
- ^ "Secret structures that underpin our stories". The Standard. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Aspden, Peter (18 June 2013). "Summer books guide". Financial Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Yorke 2013, pp. 6–11.
- ^ a b Storr, Will (2020). The Science of Storytelling. New York: Abrams Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-4197-4303-0.
- ^ Sutton, Henry (2023). Crafting Crime Fiction. Manchester University Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-1526160515.
- ^ Talks at Google (1 July 2014). Into The Woods | John Yorke | Talks at Google. Retrieved 8 January 2026 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "BBC Studios to nurture new storytellers with Writers' Academy launch". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "BBC commissions new classroom drama". the Guardian. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Shed Productions". www.mandy.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC switches Waterloo Road production to Scotland". BBC News. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Waterloo Road: High school drama to be revived after six years". BBC News. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - The Mystery of Father Brown: Ann Widdecombe Investigates". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Father Brown – the 'making of' blog". Rachel Flowerday. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Tahsin Guner". www.bafta.org. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ ""Father Brown has a real crisis, and it looks like it's unsolvable..." - Mark Williams and the Father Brown cast tease a new series". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Strange genesis of hit BBC drama Life on Mars". the Guardian. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC - Press Office - Life on Mars press pack". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "BBC News | Entertainment | Full list of Bafta TV award winners". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "British Soap Awards 2000". Digital Spy. 29 May 2000. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "OMAGH scoops Discovery Award at the Toronto International Film Festival - Screen Ireland". www.screenireland.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "IRISH DRAMA OMAGH WINS THE BAFTA FOR BEST SINGLE DRAMA - Screen Ireland". www.screenireland.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Virgin Media TV Awards: Best Soap - Awards - Tvradio - Virgin Media". www.virginmedia.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "The Missing". Golden Globes. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ Dryer, Christine (3 May 2016). "The Peabody 30 - Complete Winner's List". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
External links
[edit]- EastEnders: Faith, Morality and Hope in the Community, Speech by John Yorke
- John Yorke at IMDb
- Official Site
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