Michael Grade Named BBC Chairman

[leftchick]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44188-2004Apr2.html

<snip>LONDON, April 2 -- Maverick TV executive Michael Grade was named chairman of the BBC on Friday as Britain's public broadcaster recovers from an unprecedented judicial savaging of its pre-war Iraq coverage.

Grade, 61, known for his emphasis on ratings when he ran publicly owned broadcaster Channel 4, replaces Gavyn Davies, who resigned earlier this year after the Hutton inquiry into the BBC's role in the suicide of weapons expert David Kelly.

Kelly was the source for a BBC report that said Prime Minister Tony Blair's government "sexed up" evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Lord Hutton criticised editorial procedures and management, dealing a blow to the morale of BBC staff and leaving its independence in doubt.

"Michael is the right man at the right time," said Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell. "He has the energy to lead the BBC from the front, defending its independence and integrity from all comers."

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Fuck.

There goes any chance of good new programming then.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Son of Sir Lew (Low) Grade?

[Briar]

13. Nephew

of Lew Grade, I believe

[sniffa]

3. biLL o'reiLLy's gonna be pissed!

he was gunning for that job.

[loftycity]

4. For those of you in the know, who is this Michael Grade guy?

Is he just a corporate tool? Give us the scoop it you have it.
Thanks

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. He is a ratings obsessed corporate lackey.

Who killed Doctor Who. The bastard!

He's also known for interfering with the artistic content of programmes to an excessive degree.

This guy (Chris Morris - comic genius) is his arch-enemy. The article explains Morris' revenge on Grade, which is unutterable (and hilarious)

http://www.bizarremag.com/lives/morris.php

[loftycity]

6. When I lived in the UK Dr. Who was the best!

I liked Morris's cut on Grade. Now Conrad Black and Grade are great pals right? The last thing the BBC needs is a corporate tool, he of course will end up with some huge scandal. Black and Grade need to move to Texas and live in Crawford or next to Tom Delay.
"Freeping up Appearances part Two"

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. I don't know about much more other than his TV activities.

He is 'market-driven' to say the least. A strange and worrying choice for a public broadcaster. He was controller of BBC1 back in the '80s when he cancelled Doctor Who. Check out this genuine letter from concerned MP's.

HOUSE OF COMMONS
London SW1A 1AA

25 March 2004

Dear Michael Grade,

Congratulations on making the shortlist for the next BBC Chairman. This role is of course traditionally a non-executive one, but we would like to ask you for a reassurance on one specific point.

In your memoirs and in several interviews you have confirmed that the suspension of production of "Doctor Who" in the mid-1980s was motivated, at least in part, by your strong personal dislike of the programme. For example, you have said "I hated it - I thought it was awful" (This Morning, ITV, 13 November 1999). Two years ago (15th April 2002) you called for it to be sent into oblivion when you appeared on the BBC's "Room 101" chat show.

As you will know, the BBC is currently committing substantial financial and creative resources to a major revival of "Doctor Who". Some of the UK's leading writing and acting talents are involved, and the export and merchandising potential is very significant. The programme's impending return was celebrated last autumn at a reception at the House of Commons, attended by a large number of MPs of all parties.

Some however are concerned that, were you to become BBC Chairman, the project would be derailed – potentially wasting significant sums of licence payers’ money.

Are you therefore prepared to guarantee that, should you be appointed to the post, you would not interfere in any way with decisions about “Doctor Who”?

Copies of this letter go to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and to the media.

Yours,

Tim Collins MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale - Con)
Don Foster MP (Bath – Lib Dem)
Stephen Pound MP (Ealing North - Lab)
Julie Kirkbride MP (Bromsgrove – Con)
Bob Russell MP (Colchester - Lib Dem)
Eric Pickles MP (Brentwood & Ongar – C)

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. On the other hand

anyone known to the Daily Mail as the "pornographer-in-chief" can't be all bad.

Remember the chairman doesn't make programming decisions; most past chairmen have had no background in TV at all. I don't think this is that bad.

To answer the earlier question, he's Lew Grade's nephew.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

9. I've heard it said that he will not have much say over programming.

What, then, will be his role?

[AP]

10. Yeah. I have no complaints about Channel 4...

...other than they dropped their film production arm (right? I'm sure you'll google to confirm, muriel).

Channel 4 has had some great programming.

If they had the person running Channel 5 take over, then you'd have to worry.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Ah, you know me too well

I am a Google addict, it's true. Yes, Channel 4's film production is a fraction of what it once was.

In fact, Grade was in charge of Channel 4 when the film production was at its height - during his time (88-97), they produced The Crying Game, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shallow Grave and Trainspotting.

[nolabels]

12. Quite comical, thanks for the link

Benny Hill would be proud :D

Morris continued to build on his radio work with the masterful Why Bother?, his collaboration with the late Peter Cook. Then came Brass Eye, an apocalyptic bullet aimed at the beating heart of vapid, self-important TV current affairs. It took some of the undercurrents of The Day Today and turned them up to 11. The series has taken on the proportions of legend, with hoaxes like the fictional drug ‘cake’ (aka Joss Ackland’s Spunky Backpack or Hattie Jacques’ Pretentious Cheese Wog) and Noel Edmunds’ murdering Clive Anderson. One victim of the ‘cake’ hoax, David Amess MP, continues to insist that there really is a drug called ‘cake’. Bless him.

[Briar]

14. Cautiously optimistic

Grade has just given an interview to Channel 4 where he describes himself as (now, don't take this wrongly) Dykeist, not a Birtist.

Birt is the robotic Director General who dragged BBC morale and ratings down during his reign, and who is now Bliar's favourite "blue-sky thinker." He has an office in or near Number 10 to indulge in such airy flights of fancy. From it, he launched a treacherous attack on the BBC when he delivered a rant in the House of Lords against Dyke and Gilligan post Hutton.

However, I am not so optimistic as to hope Grade will take back the grovelling apologies panted out by the acting Chairman and the Birtist temporary DG, badly though natural justice demands it be done.

I am so fed up with hearing Bliar declare his narrow victory on points awarded by a bent referee as proof of his so-called truthfulness and integrity.