Treadwell-Collins joins Santer's Lovely Day

EastEnders' series story producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is to team up with Diederick Santer as head of development at indie production company Lovely Day.

Treadwell-Collins - who stepped down from his key post in the BBC soap's story office on Friday - assumes his new role from next month and will be responsible for initiating new drama projects and creating innovative formats.

Speaking of his departure from EastEnders, the 32-year-old said: "I have had an amazing time at EastEnders and I couldn't have dreamed of a better place to work. Working on EastEnders has enabled me to create some fantastic storylines and characters that have been received so well but after four-and-a-half years of life in Walford, I feel that it is time to move on and try something new.

"I'll miss everyone but I'll be watching as this year is set to be explosive and I am certain that the show will continue to go from strength to strength."

Of joining Lovely Day, he added: "I'm really excited about working with Diederick again at Lovely Day, where I hope we will surpass the success that we've already enjoyed [at EastEnders]."

Lovely Day's managing director Santer said: "Dominic is a brilliant and original talent, bursting with great ideas and gripping stories. Many of EastEnders' best storylines and characters of the last few years have come directly from his imagination and design, and he played an integral part in conceiving and plotting the hugely successful 25th anniversary episodes. I'm delighted to be resuming our creative partnership at Lovely Day."

Treadwell-Collins began his career as a development assistant on Midsomer Murders, before moving to Talkback Thames for four years, storylining Family Affairs.

He went on to join the EastEnders team in October 2005 and was quickly appointed series story producer. While there, he created Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell and masterminded storylines such as Syed Masood's battle between faith and sexuality and the 'Who Killed Archie?' mystery, which culminated in the show's live 25th anniversary episode in February.

Launched last month, Lovely Day is independently owned, managed and operated by Santer. Under the Kudos umbrella, Lovely Day is afforded the benefit of its creative, production and legal teams.