EastEnders boss Jon Sen to leave soap

EastEnders‘ Executive Producer Jon Sen is leaving the soap.

Sen is moving on from the soap after three years to take up the reins on BBC medical drama Casualty and has also been tasked with bringing to screen ‘two new high-end drama projects’ for the corporation.

Speaking about his departure, he said:

“The time has come to bid my farewell to Walford. It has been the honour of a lifetime to helm this amazing show for three years. I want to give a heartfelt thanks to Kate and rest of the wonderful team at Elstree for the brilliant work we’ve achieved together. I wish Chris every success in his new role.”

Jon Sen was announced as the executive producer of EastEnders in January 2019.

His tenure has seen the show tackle subjects such as the domestic violence between the characters of Chantelle and Gray Atkins, the non-recent sexual abuse storyline involving Mick Carter, and Linda Carter’s alcoholism. Albert Square also welcomed its first ever Sikh family, while an ambitious boat crash on the Thames formed the centrepiece of the soap’s 35th anniversary.

The Beeb note that he has “championed diversity on and off screen” as well as nurturing new talent across all departments at BBC Elstree.

However, his reign has been, for long-running fans of the soap, a controversial one due to his excessive use of incidental music and visual experimentation.

Viewers have been turned off by the absurd nature of several storylines including Sharon Watts’ attempted murder of her close friend Ian Beale, Gray Atkins transition from wife-beater to serial killer, and Linda Carter cheating on her beloved husband Mick with Max Branning.

He has also killed off fan favourites including Mel Owen, Tina Carter and Kush Kazemi.

His successor has been named as Chris Clenshaw who previously worked on the show as a storyliner, script editor and story producer between 2015-2019.

On returning to Walford, Chris said: 

“I’m thrilled to be returning to Walford to work with the hugely talented team on a British institution that, for more than three decades, has given us some of the most memorable moments in popular culture. Becoming the custodian of one of Britain’s greatest dramas is a huge honour.” 

BBC Studios’ Head of Continuing Drama, Kate Oates, will oversee executive producer duties at Elstree on the show until Clenshaw joins EastEnders in January 2022. She notes of the shake-up:

“It is with great excitement that we look forward to Chris Clenshaw arriving back in Albert Square, this time at the helm of the show. His love for the programme runs deep, and I know he’s already looking forward to telling fresh and exciting stories and celebrating the very best of our iconic characters.

“I would like to thank Jon Sen from the bottom of my heart for all he has done for the show, especially in his creation of some brilliant new characters, and pioneering new ways of shooting during the pandemic.

“‘While I am sad he has taken the decision to leave EastEnders to take on new creative challenges, I am delighted to continue working with him in the future.”

Piers Wenger, Director of Drama for the BBC, added: “Chris will be a fantastic creative leader for the series – his understanding of what makes EastEnders unique and his instinct for a great soap story make him a natural and outstanding choice for the role.”